Reuven, Ben-Zion (“Bentzi”)

Son of Shmuel and Fahima. He was born on May 25, 1951 in Moshav Nes Harim. He studied at the agricultural regional school in Ein Karem. His head was not given to study and after completing eighth grade, he did not continue to study and went to work in his parents’ farm in Moshav Even Sapir. He did his work with devotion and will, and indeed the agriculture flourished. son of-Zion was of great physical strength, but never used his power to his advantage, or to terrorize others. He was a social man and kindhearted, and among his peers his age was the mainstay. In May 1969, he was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces and was assigned to the Engineering Corps, and was a good, dedicated and proud soldier in his service, and he was laid to rest on the banks of the Suez Canal on 20.6.1970. He wrote to his parents in a letter of condolence: “son of-Zion fell during the construction of fortifications in one of the strongholds in the ditch, a work that was done under fire and in a frenzy – until the fire of the enemy caught him. – – – Bentzi is considered in the battalion to be one of the finest soldiers and all his friends and commanders can testify to that. Bentzi was always among the first to volunteer for any difficult and dangerous task, and in any job he always filled the place of three soldiers. Everything he did, he did with good humor and a slight smile on his lips. No one had ever heard him complain of harsh conditions. This was Benzi and we will remember him as his friends and commanders. “The family donated a trophy to a football tournament between the Mateh Yehuda Moshavim, which takes place every year on the anniversary of Moshav Even Sapir.