Son of Binyamin and Yehudit. He was born on August 11, 1949, in Warsaw, the capital of Poland. At the dawn of his youth, he was far from Judaism and did not yet know the anti-Semitic rudeness and contempt for the Jew. But in 1957, when Stephen was eight years old, a wave of anti-Semitism swept over Poland. In those days, when Gomulka returned to power, the parents decided for the first time to enlighten him on the origins of his people and the glorious history of the Jewish people and its history. They told him of the blow Israel inflicted on Egypt in the Sinai Campaign. His parents’ words filled his Lev with pride and as a result he said categorically: “The Jewish people is the most intelligent and powerful people in the world.” That year, his five-year-old brother traveled with his grandmother to visit Israel and spent four months at Kibbutz Sdot Yam, in the home of her uncle and aunt. When he returned to Poland, Hebrew was familiar with him and he spoke about fields and the sea, about spaces, friends and freedom. Stefan then suggested to his parents: “Come and go there.” In 1960, Jews were fired from their government positions. The parents decided to send the children to the camp of the “Culture Society of Polish Jews”. In these camps the children absorbed a little Jewish education. There, as if from a hidden source, the children were aware of their national uniqueness. Stefan discovered one day that the best and most talented students in his school were Jews and he took pride in it. A few days before the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Stefan learned that a group of Jewish children was organizing to do cleaning and order work around the monument of the heroes of the ghetto. Stefan joined the group and dedicated his work with great devotion to those who gave their lives for their people. When he returned home, he talked excitedly about his experiences. One day, the parents informed Stephan that they had applied for an exit permit in order to immigrate to Israel. First refusal came, followed by a second refusal, but the parents’ struggle for the right to immigrate to Israel continued, and in May 1965 the parents received permission to leave Poland. When they arrived in Israel in October 1965, the school year began. After several weeks and requests to various offices, Stefan was accepted to the studio in Ein Harod (Meuhad). Even though Stefan initially had difficulty learning Hebrew and adapting to the new social life, he quickly absorbed himself in the society of the kibbutz members. There he heard about the heroism of the pioneers, their struggle for the redemption of the land, their struggle against nature, and even neighbors and robbers. Where he first plowed the ground, and wrote to his friends who remained in Warsaw. The figure of the pioneer who had followed the plow, and his one hand in the strongest part, appealed to him. In February 1966, the family moved to Jerusalem. Until the matriculation exams, Stephan had two years left and he had not yet mastered the language and the material he had to learn was great! But he persisted in his studies and did not give up. He was able to take full advantage of the new life and seemed to be in alliance with the language and customs of the place. He tended to humane studies, even though he began studying in the real world. The transition from a trend to a trend required a deeper knowledge of the Hebrew language and culture, but Stefan did not let go of difficult subjects (such as Bible, grammar, Talmud, and literature). Shortly after immigrating to Israel, he took part in the four day walk and continued to participate in the marches until he graduated from high school, and was proud of it and along with the medals brought home a treasure trove of experiences and stories about society, scenery and songs. Stefan, who was only seventeen at the time, helped move people from the nearby “old age home” home The victory of the IDF was a source of pride and joy. At the end of the matriculation exams, he remained in the army for several weeksHe went to work. He also earned a little money to buy gifts for the family and managed to leave for Eilat for a few days, where he was fascinated by the wonderful scenery and the surroundings. He was drafted into the IDF in August 1968 and assigned to the Golani Brigade, and Stefan wanted to serve in the navy because he believed that this unit would be able to contribute its full potential, but he soon learned to love his unit and take pride in it. He was sent to a course for squad commanders, and the battalion commander told his parents that he was impressed by Stefan’s leadership. One soldier said simply that “everyone loved him, he never bothered us, when he demanded to do a task, he had a taste for things. On the Independence Day of 1969 he came to Jerusalem with his unit, but he did not arrive home because his time was not available, due to the guard and security duties that were imposed on his unit. He participated in the raid on Jabal Ross (Mount Dov), was injured, but moved on. He was wounded again, and this time the commander ordered him not to move until he was rescued on a gurney, but Stefan did not want to be carried and he moved alone to the chopper that came to get him bleeding. When he was informed that he was about to take down his medical profile for six months, he did everything in his power to prevent this and demanded that he be sent to an officer’s course. He even went to the base to make sure that he had been received. He was able to start the course on time. However, he could not keep up with the long training sessions. The wounds had not healed or even hurt-and he had to avoid the exercises. Finally he came home and told him sadly that he was not continuing the course. He returned to his unit, which was stationed at the time on the banks of the canal north of Kantara. He did not write much in those long, nerve-racking weeks. When he came home late at night and returned the following morning, he would not tell much about what was going on at the front, because “why should I tell you so that you will be more excited?” On Tuesday, July 7, 1970, Stefan fell near the Jordan estuary, opposite Almagor, while fulfilling his duties and was brought to rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, in a letter of condolences to the bereaved parents, Under my command as a sergeant in a company in the First Bounty Regiment. During his service, he participated in the company’s operational activities and participated in a large number of operations across the border. In one of these operations he was injured and when he returned he returned to the company and at his request he took part in other operations. Stefan was full of concern and devotion to his subordinates, responsible and enterprising, who characterized him from the other company commanders. He was very proud of his unit, and of course his role. Because of these qualities, he quickly progressed in both his position and rank. He took upon himself every mission with the loyalty and satisfaction of all his commanders. Was admired by his subordinates and received the approval of all his commanders. “After his fall, a book was published in his memory called” Bereishit Haderech, “at the initiative of the family and his many acquaintances, on the lands of Kibbutz Sdot Yam, where Stephen liked it, planted a grove of 1000 trees to commemorate his name: The name of the dead from his brothers and the gate of his place “(Ruth 4:10).
