Monavaz, Yehuda (Leo)

Son of Pessia and Avraham-Shimon was born on March 14, 1917 in the city of Konigsberg, Germany to parents of Russian origin, an old family of Hovevei Zion who settled in Germany in 1904. In 1934 Yehuda immigrated to Eretz Israel and a year later his parents immigrated to Tel Aviv. During the War of Independence, Yehuda joined the army and served in the “Kiryati” brigade. Our forces took control of the Modi’in area and when the second truce came into force, the area was seized. The area was calm and the force was held by an elite unit of the Kiryati Brigade. On September 24, 1948, the outpost was attacked by local Arabs and with the help of the Legion, unexpectedly and in violation of the truce. The defenders of the outpost were surprised and forced to retreat in light of the enemy’s superiority, and many were injured in the severe retreat. The next day, our forces attacked and conquered the outpost. In this battle Yehuda fell, and on the 20th of Elul 5708 (24.9.1948) and was laid to rest in the military cemetery at Nahalat Yitzhak.