Michaelovich, Yitzhak (Jackie)

Yitzchak (Jackie), son of Malka and Eliyahu Michaelovich, was born on the 20th of Tamuz, July 6, 1920 in Kutais, Russia and at the age of three months was brought to Israel with his parents. In 1936 he joined the Haganah, served diligently and was a guard in the suburbs of the city, and by order of the Haganah he joined the Nutras and served there until the end of the riots. Was devoted to his family and gave them most of his wages. In the Second World War Yitzchak volunteered for the British Navy as a mechanic and reached the rank of sub-officer. He was released from the service in 1945. When the Arab attack began, he defended the borders of Tel Aviv and and helped to fortify the Haganah positions. On the 29th of Adar I, 5708 (29.2.1948), near Mikve Israel, when Yitzchak led the last transport, British soldiers appeared with their commander, confiscated the weapons of the defenders and workers and abandoned them to an Arab gang armed with weapons. The Arabs expected the British to leave,(which was agreed on apparently between them in advance). Yitzchak wanted to drive the people away in his truck but the British sabotaged it and emptied out all the gasoline. Most of the people were killed in the flight, Yitzchak among them. It was only the following day that his body was found, unrecognizable. His parents recognized him by certain signs and he was laid to rest in the military cemetery at Nahalat Yitzhak.