Malkin, Mordechai (Motke)

Son of Nehama and Shmuel, was born on 22 December 1922 in Tel Aviv, completed elementary school and trained in Gadna, mainly as a scout. He enjoyed swimming, cycling, and playing soccer as a goalkeeper. As a construction worker, he worked bending iron. Despite being under the age of conscription, Mordechai volunteered at the beginning of World War II for a work battalion in the British Engineers Corps. He was happy and warm, kind to all he knew. Mordechai served in the Western Desert and in Tobruk and continued to Italy in a company that was annexed to the Jewish Brigade, the first herald to She’erith Hapleitah in Europe. After five years of service, Mordechai returned to Israel. A few months after his marriage, as the security situation worsened, and as a member of the Haganah, he devoted his nights to guarding the borders of Tel Aviv. On the day of the declaration of the state, he enlisted in full service and served in the newly established 7th brigade. After the failure of the first attack on the enemy formation in Latrun, our forces were deployed in the area. During the course of this activity, during the leaving of mines, Mordechai fell on the 18th of Iyar 5708 (May 27, 1948) and did not get to see his eldest son, who was born after his death. He was buried in Hulda. On the 8th of Cheshvan 5710 (19.10.1950) he was laid to rest in the Nachlat Yitzhak military cemetery.