Lifshitz, Itamar

Itamar, son of Paula and Yosef Lifshitz, was born on 22 May 1919 in Poland. His father died when he was a child and the burden of supporting the family fell on him. In spite of the economic difficulties, Itamar completed his studies in elementary school and continued to study at the gymnasium for two years. In his youth he joined the ranks of the Betar movement and enjoyed swimming, soccer, table tennis and skiing, and handicrafts, mainly carving wood. In 1935, Itamar emigrated to Eretz Israel, as 16-year-old boy and obtained a job as a driver shortly after his arrival. With the founding of the Irgun Zvai Leumi (National Military Organization), Itamar quickly joined his ranks and was active in the recruitment process. He was sent to a course for deputies and was appointed commander of a unit. When caught by the British, he was sentenced to six months in prison, but he did not cease his activities during this period. During the War of Independence Itamar went to guard the Tel Aviv-Jaffa border and demanded that his commanders give him dangerous positions even though he was already a father. During the occupation of Jaffa he worked tirelessly in supplying explosives to the front. On the 16th of Sivan, June 22, 1948, he boarded the Altalena to unload weapons, military equipment, and illegal immigrants for the Irgun. Itamar fell in the battle. He was buried in the military cemetery in Nahalat Yitzhak and left behind a wife and a son.