Refes, Raphael

Son of Yehoshua and Miriam. He was born on March 17, 1922 in Poland and immigrated to Israel in 1935. He studied briefly at the Tel Nordoi School in Tel Aviv and at the joint school in Tel Mond. During this period he contributed greatly to the youth activity in the Gush. He was always gifted with technical skills and aspired to study at the Hebrew University of Haifa. He continued his studies at the Arab Gymnasium in Tel Aviv and on a working day at the Hasna company. In 1942 he volunteered for the British Army. At first he served in R.A.F as a driver, and later in the Hebrew Transport Unit in the Western Desert. He specialized in car and airplane repairs and was attached to the unit that was preparing for the invasion of Europe. In 1944 he participated in the invasion of Greece and from there returned to Egypt and was appointed commander of a workshop in Abokkir. In 1946 he was discharged from the British army and returned to work in the “Hasna”. In 1948, he volunteered for the Palmach as a mechanic in the 8th Battalion of the Negev Brigade and was a besieged soldier in the Negev. At the end of the War of Independence he served for a time in the career army. When Tzoref was released as a partner in the “Zahlil” company for earthworks and soil preparation. He established a family, left the company “Zahlil” and continued to work as an independent, strict performance and humane treatment to all employees. He has invested considerable thought in streamlining work and increasing production. He had a lot of initiative and resourcefulness and improvisation. He found everything simple and efficient. He naturally liked to do everything with his own hands. In his spare time, he listened to music, or made up motorcycles, cars and himself set up his home. One of his many hobbies was to go for walks with his wife and children, equipped with a map and binoculars, and to explore the country in all its length. It was quiet and humble and gave an atmosphere of peace and security to all around him. Used to help the near and far not in order to receive a reward. He always hoped that he would succeed in completing his studies at the Hebrew Technion in Haifa, but he did not get it. On the 28th of Kislev 5731 (28.1.1971), he died in the course of his duties, leaving a wife and two children. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul.