Menashe, Yaakov (Jack)

Son of Yitzhak and Rivka. He was born on 19.3.1947 in Istanbul, Turkey. Immigrated to Israel in 1970. Yaakov attended elementary school in Istanbul. Afterward, he continued his studies at the French College of St. Joseph in Istanbul and at the Technical University of the city, where he graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry. He was an outstanding student, and his grades were above average. Upon completion of his studies he was awarded the title of ‘Certified Chemical Engineer’. Jacob was a broad-minded boy and was interested in many fields. He loved literature and devoted his free time to reading books. Although he was not satisfied with his condition as a Jew in Istanbul, Jacob did not accept his father’s pleas and refused to immigrate to Israel as a child. After completing his studies at the university, he changed his attitude toward immigration to Israel and he quickly left his hometown and his family to settle permanently in Israel. Jacob spent the first few months in Israel in a studio and then moved to Kibbutz Gan Shmuel. He soon became one of the activists in the kibbutz society and liked everyone. Yaakov was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in October 1972. After completing his basic training, he was discharged from regular service and assigned to a reserve unit of the Engineering Corps, and as the unit commander attests in his letter to his parents, Jacques proved his loyalty to his role and was a model soldier who volunteered for any mission. In the Yom Kippur War, Ya’akov took part in battles in the Golan Heights, and after his discharge from the army, Yaakov lived in Haifa, near the home of his sister, and began working at the polygon factory for paints On April 24, 1975, Ya’akov fell in line with his duties in the Golan Heights and was brought to eternal rest in the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: “During the period that was with us, Jacques proved himself to be a model soldier who volunteered for every mission, Deed faithful always on hand and an honest man, a competent and pleasant.