Novoselsky, Aharon

Aharon, son of Rachel and Yitzhak, was born on March 13, 1950, in Minsk, Russia, and immigrated with his family in May 1960. He began his studies at the elementary school in the city of Minsk. When he was seven years old, he moved with his parents to Poland and continued to study in a Jewish elementary school in their new place of residence. In 1960 his family arrived in Israel and settled in Kiryat Gat. A year later they moved to Bat-Yam and he completed his studies at the state’s third elementary school. Aaron was a humble boy. The fact that he had to move from country to country and adapt to a new society and to new conditions affected him and made him move away from kids his age. In his youth he was withdrawn into himself and found many occupations that did not require a company of people. He spent a lot of time with his parents and tried to help them establish their status in their new country. He was well aware of the many difficulties his parents had encountered, as well as the hardships experienced by his parents during the Second World War. So he did his best to be with them and give them joy. After completing his studies, he began working as a metalworker at the Ushpiz electric motors factory in Holon, where he worked for one year. Afterward he worked as a locksmith in a workshop for installing elevators in Tel Aviv. Aharon was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in early February 1968 and assigned to the Armored Corps, where he was trained as a gunner and a tank trainer, and was sent to serve in the Barak Brigade as a liaison officer, and he participated in training and operational activities. IDF forces on terrorist concentrations in Lebanon. He was noted as a devoted soldier who fulfilled all the tasks assigned to him with precision and perfection, and was admired by his comrades and accepted by his commanders. At the beginning of February 1971, Aharon was released from regular service and placed in a reserve unit of the Armored Corps. In this unit he was called for periods of reserve duty. After the liberation he lived with his parents in Holon and worked in the meat factory “Richard Levy”. Aaron was an avid sports fan, played soccer and basketball, and did not miss the competitions of his favorite team. He was a dedicated worker, saw a blessing in his work and succeeded in helping support the family. He made many plans for the future and was about to marry his girlfriend and establish a home in Israel, but did not achieve his dream. During the Yom Kippur War, his unit participated in the battle against the Syrians in the Golan Heights. On the 8th of Tishrei 5734 (October 8, 1973) Aharon was hit and killed in the fierce battles that took place near the village of Naaf. He was brought to eternal rest in the cemetery in Holon. Survived by his parents and sister. After his fall, he was promoted to sergeant.