Menashe, Raphael (Rafi)

The eldest son of Yaffa and the eldest was born on April 9, 1914 in Constantinople, Turkey, where he grew up. In 1922 he immigrated to Israel, studied at the Talmud Torah in Jerusalem and continued his studies at the Porat Yosef yeshiva in the Old City. He wanted to finish his studies and be a rabbi in Israel, but because of his parents’ poor economic situation he stopped school and went to work as a farmer. Raphael continued to study at night and at the same time joined the Haganah and from there was transferred to Magen David Adom and completed a paramedics course. During the bloody riots of 1936-1939 he served as a patrolman in Tsuba and around Jerusalem, practiced and defended points of settlement and points of reference. On December 15, 1947, two weeks after the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the partition of Palestine and the beginning of the War of Independence, he served as a soldier for Sheikh Jarrah. Fill with devotion and perfection. On 15 May 1948 he returned to practice. On the 3rd of Iyar 5708 (June 3, 1948), on his way back to the post, he was shot by an Arab sniper near the Terra Santa School. At first he was wounded, but because of the intense fire it was not possible to provide him with first aid. Rafi managed to drag himself toward his position and his people heard his call: “Shema Yisrael,” “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget.” He fell and died. He was buried in Sheikh Bader Aleph. He left behind a wife and two daughters. On the 28th of Elul 5710 (10.9.1950) he was put to rest at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.