Levi, Yehoshua

Yehoshua, son of Shpika and Abraham z “l, was born in 1949 in Baghdad, Iraq. In 1951, his family immigrated to Israel and was sent to the Hiriya transit camp, where she lived under the most difficult conditions until she moved to the hut. In 1955 the family moved to the Salameh Joshana neighborhood, after which Yehoshua and his brother were orphaned by their father. Yehoshua was a student at the Achva Elementary School in Ramat Gan and was considered a diligent student. He loved school and was the pride of his mother and teachers, his maturity and his sense of responsibility. Another terrible blow landed on the family when his younger brother was killed in a car accident. Yehoshua suffered greatly from the disaster and it took him a long time to recover. Nevertheless, Yehoshua took upon himself the responsibility of his brothers and dealt with them with infinite devotion. Because his mother worked night shift, Yehoshua used to prepare food for his brothers and take care of them at home. As soon as he completed his elementary studies, Yehoshua went to work to ease his mother’s burden of supporting the household. He worked in a metalwork shop and during the evening he studied at the Ort school for apprenticeship. He devoted most of his free time to sports and especially to soccer. He used to collect books and articles on this subject, and later the collection of medals and shields he won. He was accepted as a member of the football team of Maccabi Ramat Hashikma, and was one of the most outstanding players. A handsome young man, diligent and kind, he never answered a request for help. He was loyal to his mother and a devoted brother, and all the people in the neighborhood knew his erect figure, his black hair and his pleasant face. Yehoshua was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in mid-February 1967. After completing his basic training course, he served as a tank crew member in one of the IAF units and participated in an operation in Karameh and during the War of Attrition. He did not want to worry about his mother, and only after he had recovered on vacation did he casually mention that he was wounded. In the middle of February 1970, Yehoshua completed his compulsory army service and was stationed in a reserve unit of the IAF. After the liberation, Yehoshua was hired to work in a plastic products factory. He worked in shifts and did his work well. During his free time, he continued his sports activities in the Maccabi Ramat Hashikma soccer team. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Yehoshua ran home immediately with the sound of the siren, packed his belongings, and waited impatiently for the reading order. When the order came, he kissed his mother and said, “Take care of yourself.” He was one of the first to concentrate and when he saw that the exit was lingering, he ran home again to say goodbye. He was sent to the Sinai front and took part in the bitter battles to stop the Egyptians. On October 15, 1973, his tank was hit in the vicinity of the “Chinese farm” and Yehoshua was killed. For months it was bitterly doubtful that he had fallen, and four months after the battle it had been confirmed that Yehoshua had been killed. He was brought to eternal rest in the cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. Survived by a mother and three brothers. After his fall, he was promoted to sergeant. The family participated in the purchase of a Torah scroll donated to commemorate his name.