Lev, Jacob

Son of Chava and Avraham Shalom, was born on May 5, 1910 in the city of Stanislawow, Galicia, Poland. Yaakov received a thorough education and continued to study in a commercial school. Against the wishes of his parents, he joined the Hashomer Hatzair movement and later became one of the pillars of the local branch. Upon reaching the age of conscription, he served in the Polish army in an infantry unit and was promoted to corporal. Yaakov immigrated to Israel on October 9, 1935 and joined Kibbutz Beit Alpha. From there he went with the settlers to the winepress. Even in his youth, he had a tendency to grow animals. From this tendency, he paid the cowshed and almonds for the development of dairy farms instead of settling them. Jacob was an excellent worker. He had a strong, silent, stubborn body and was always ready to help others. He took advantage of his excellent military training and was one of the commanders of his kibbutz. At the time of the attack on Gat, he escorted the animals removed from the front line and remained to protect the animals who remained in the “rear.” On 25 August 1948, while on guard duty, Arab infiltrators stormed him and stabbed him with knives, and Jacob was brought to rest in the cemetery in Geth, leaving Raya – Frida, two sons and a daughter.