Luntz, Menachem

Menachem, son of Duba and Yosef, was born on 15.2.1950 in Petah Tikva and grew up and lived in Kfar Saba. Menachem completed his first four years of studies at the “Yavneh” school in Ramat Gan and completed his elementary studies at the Brenner School in Kfar Saba. He completed his high school studies at the military school near the Reali School in Haifa. During his elementary years, Menachem was a member of the Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed movement. From his youth, he always delved into every problem and analyzed his experiences and reached his own conclusions on every issue. He tried to apply his conclusions to everything he thought and studied, in everyday life. Menahem was very fond of literature and poetry and was profound in every book he read until he came to exhaust all the meanings of things. After graduating from elementary school, he chose to continue with his studies in the real world, for he regarded mathematics as one of his weak points, and as usual he chose the hard way to overcome his limitations. Menachem was conscripted into the IDF in August 1968. After graduating from the “Centurion” course and being trained as a tank gunner, he was sent to the tank commanders’ course, after which he served as a noncommissioned officer. According to his commanders, Menahem excelled in leadership and resourcefulness and liked his subordinates and commanders. He loved the armor and was careful about everything related to routine life in this corps – from the meticulous handling of tanks to carry out all the tasks involved in the unit’s life. At the end of his regular service, Menahem volunteered to serve for another year in the career army. In 1972, Menahem was released from service and assigned to a reserve unit. From time to time he was called for periods of active reserve duty in this unit. After his discharge, he began studying at the Technion, Haifa, in the Faculty of Chemical Engineering. At that time he married his girlfriend Rivka. By choosing a real profession again, he once again responded to the challenge of overcoming a difficult path. He cultivated his love as a spirit of literature, and during this period cultivated a large collection of books. During the Yom Kippur War, Menachem was conscripted and sent to the Sinai front where he participated in battles against the Egyptians. On the 8th of Tishrei 5734 (October 8, 1973), his tank was hit in the Kantara area by anti-tank fire and Menahem was killed and brought to rest in the cemetery in Kfar Sava, leaving behind a wife, parents and two sisters.after his fall he was promoted to the rank of First sergeant.