Melnik, Feivel

Son of Zvia and Alter-Haim. Born on August 28, 1930, in the city of Poltowsk, Poland, where he spent his youth, during which he spent his life in Siberia, and spent some time in a DP camp in Germany as a member of the Bnei Akiva religious youth movement. When Feivel immigrated to Israel with his parents, the family settled in Haifa. He worked at Solel Boneh. Feivel was drafted into the IDF in early May 1952. He was first assigned to Nahal, but due to his parents’ illness, he was transferred to the naval base in Haifa to be close to them. Two years later Feivel was released from regular service. The release certificate described his behavior as “very good” and the commanders’ assessment was that he was “orderly and fulfilling his duty faithfully.” After the liberation Feivel wanted to study electrical engineering, but the conditions at home did not allow this, and he began to work in the butcher shop. He later married and Feivel took care to support the two families and did not spare the effort to fulfill this task. As a reservist he participated in the battles of Sinai, the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War, and was decorated with medals. On February 13, 1983, Feivel died while serving and was buried in the Hof Hacarmel cemetery in Haifa, leaving a wife, two sons, a daughter, a mother and two sisters.