Rabinowitz, Shmuel

Son of Sonia and Abraham. Was born in 1911 in the city of Vilna, which was then part of Tsarist Russia. His well-to-do family, which dealt in the forest trade, lived in the nearby town of Novosibczian and was one of the pillars of the local Jewish community. Shmuel attended a Russian elementary school in the town. Indeed, in 1923 the family arrived in Israel, lived for several months in Tel Aviv and eventually settled in Rishon LeZion to engage in agricultural work on tobacco cultivation. Shmuel began to study at the Haviv School and during his spare time helped work in the agriculture. He continued to study at the Mikveh Israel Agricultural School. Shmuel had much physical strength. In the sports association of “HaPoel” Rishon Letzion he practiced boxing, wrestling and weight lifting, and took advantage of his great strength in various work that required strength. In 1930, Shmuel volunteered for the British army and was attached to a Hebrew driver’s unit that was stationed in Syria and assisted in the “illegal” immigration of Jews from Syria and Lebanon to Palestine. Upon his discharge from the British army he enlisted in the ranks of the Palmach and soon became commander of the Palmach division in Rishon Letzion and the area. He took part in the incidents in Yazur and Sarafand with his men. He excelled in leadership ability and in his ability to solve any problem brought before him. He replied to each problem first, “Do not worry, close by” and so it was called “Close By the Big” (his brother Shimshon is “Close By the Small”). He had a sense of humor and talent for telling stories and tall tales. After a few years in the Palmach he was released and joined the reserve unit of the Palmach. At the end of 1946 Shmuel took sick and died on the 4th of Adar 5707 (24.2.1947) of his illness and was brought to rest at the cemetery in Rishon Lezion near the grave of his father, who died about half a year before. He is mentioned in “The Palmach Book”. His exploits and the exploits of his brother, “Close By the Small,” are presented in detail in Illusions Digest.