Magen, David (Davidka)

Son of Chava and Michael, was born on May 18, 1925 in Haifa. He completed elementary school in Kiryat Haim and excelled in social studies and painting. He continued his studies at the vocational school of the Technion in Haifa, and was astonished to engrave in the linoleum. As a member of Hanoar Haoved, he was one of the editors of the Kiryat Haim branch newspaper. In the third year of his studies (1942) he stopped his studies and enlisted in the Palmach during his first year of existence, and spent some time in prison in 1945. In 1945 he spent some time in prison and searches in his parents’ home, (Reserve unit) in Haifa and worked as a locksmith. At the same time he studied drawing and completed a course for welding at the Technion. With the outbreak of the War of Independence, he returned to the ranks of the Palmach, went down to the Negev and was appointed platoon commander in the “Hayut HaNegev” unit, and fell on the day of the 16th of Iyar 5705 (May 25, 1948) in a daring raid on the Egyptian guns near Beit Hanoun. The mission was successful, but a bullet hit him at the end of the operation, and in his last letter, the day before his death, he wrote to his parents: “Who knows when I will come to freedom? I think – with the victory. “He was buried in Dorot and was awarded the rank of lieutenant after his fall, leaving behind many paintings and etchings attesting to his artistic talent, which he had promised many: On the 17th of Iyar 5705 (4.5.1950) he was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Haifa .