Prover, Nachum

Son of Chava and Mordechai. He was born on May 12, 1911 in Russia, and when he was two years old he immigrated to Israel with his mother. He completed his studies at the “Tachkemoni” elementary school and later studied at the Herzliya Gymnasium. At the age of sixteen, Nahum went to London where he completed his studies as an electrical engineer. In London he was a Zionist youth activist and in the Zionist kibbutz he met the girl he married. In 1935 Nahum returned with his wife to Israel and worked in the Technion in special positions in academic and technical matters. He also translated articles from general industrial sciences. He worked for the Electric Company in Haifa. Nahum was loved and respected by all fpr his knowledge. Nachum enlisted in the British navy in 1941 and was in charge of a company of Hebrew fleet members from Eretz Israel. At the beginning of his service he served in Haifa and was later transferred to Alexandria and Port Said. For two years he served as naval engineer and also in the official position of liaison officer between the Israeli sailors and the naval authorities. Nachum reached the rank of lieutenant. During these two years Nachum knew how to win the hearts of everyone who came into contact with him – the sailors, the soldiers, the naval authorities and the Jewish community. His job was not easy; after a day’s work he devoted the evening to public business. Always cared for others and very little for himself. Nachum had plenty of energy and initiative and took care to nurture the atmosphere wherever he went. He always lectured and spoke and found a sympathetic ear among the Jews he met somewhere. Nachum was a complete Jew in his home and when he went out between his friends in uniform and his fellow citizens in a foreign country. He knew how to preserve his Jewishness even among the foreign uniformed men. In February 1945 Nachum went to Cairo for a lecture by M. Shertok (Sharett) to the liaison officers, and on his way back on the 19th of Shvat (2.2.1945) his car overturned. He was mortally wounded. On the way to the hospital, Nachum died of his wounds. At the military funeral held at the military cemetery in Port Said, many of the Jewish community took part in paying the last respects to the loyal, honest and friendly Jewish officer who worked so hard for the Jewish sailors and soldiers in Egypt and who carried the flag of the nation with dignity and pride. He left a pregnant wife, a boy and a girl. His son, who was born eight days after his fall, was named after him. Nachum was 33 years old when he was killed.