Maltz, Raphael (Rafi)

Son of Yehudit and David, members of Kibbutz Ein Harod, was born on March 3, 1927 in Jerusalem, while his parents sat there in a kibbutz labor company. After a few months he returned with them to Ein Harod, where he grew up and studied at the school Common. Raphael was especially attracted to humanistic studies, but excelled in all subjects. He was involved in various sports, and basketball was among the best in the country. After completing his studies, he worked in the farm, in the barn, in the fodder and in the tractor, and during his spare time devoted himself to study and reading. In 1947, he joined the Palmach, participated in courses for the Sayeretim and sabotage, and participated in the first bombing of the buses in Ramle and other operations until the battles for the breakthrough to Jerusalem, where he served as an intelligence officer in his battalion. (Not to reveal to the enemy the secret of his “Davidka” mortar.) In the battle of Nabi Samuel he stood bravely and coldly against the English and the Arabs until the last moment, and in this action he fell on the 14th of Nissan 5708 (April 23, 1948). He was brought to eternal rest in a grave in the military cemetery in Kiryat Anavim, and was raised to the rank of First Lieutenant (lieutenant). Justice Ein Harod, Ts”t. His letters to his parents and to his beloved girlfriend, published by Hakibbutz Hame’uchad and Ein Harod in the book “Bikud” in the year 5709, open a window to the inner world of a wide and profound insight,