Rokach (Rachach), Shimon
Shimon, son of Yaffa and Rahamim, was born on December 12, 1949 in Be’er Ya’akov. He attended the “Shachal” elementary school in Netanya and the “Bar-Ilan” high school in Netanya, and Shimon was the middle child in his 12-person family, and despite the difficult living conditions and the overcrowding in the house, He was an outstanding and successful student and excelled in all subjects and never needed help in his studies, even in subjects that were considered difficult and complicated for many students. Simo, as his family and friends called him, knew how to listen to anyone, to encourage and to dare He was a devoted and faithful son of his family, he loved his parents very much and was very careful to fulfill the mitzvah of honoring one’s father and mother. His devotion to his family was so great that when his economic situation worsened, he decided to abandon his studies and go to work to help support the large family, and regretted that he could not continue studying. He loved his studies and was enthusiastic about anything new he had discovered in the various classes. But the family always stood above him, and when she needed his help he came to her aid without hesitation. He began to work as a construction worker and all his wages he devoted to helping the family agriculture. He could have chosen a much easier job for himself, but he preferred hard work that he had hired to help the house. Shimon was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of November 1967 and assigned to the infantry. Having successfully completed his basic training and discovered the qualities of a commander, he was immediately sent to a squad commanders’ course, at the end of which he was awarded the rank of corporal. In this course, Simo was also very well known and was one of the few who were selected to take part in an IDF sniper course. Who were stationed on the banks of the Suez Canal during the War of Attrition, and during the War of Attrition in the Sinai was a lone wolf who sniped at the enemy soldiers who harassed our soldiers. He had a goal in the field, and towards the end of his regular service he underwent a military conversion Professional. He was assigned to the artillery corps, an education professions corps accredited non-commissioned officer and other heavy mortar. Immediately after the end of his regular service, he married his girlfriend Devorah and returned to the construction industry, this time not as a laborer but as an independent contractor. During the Yom Kippur War, Shimon took part in the difficult battles against the soldiers of the Second Egyptian Army, in the Gidi region of Sinai. On the 17th of Tishrei 5740 (17.10.1973) the moving mortar was detonated and exploded, and he was killed on the spot. He was brought to eternal rest in the cemetery in Netanya. He left behind a wife and daughter, parents, six brothers and three sisters. After his fall, he was promoted to sergeant. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: “He was a fearless fighter who fulfilled his mission with great courage and supreme sacrifice.” His parents donated a Torah scroll to the Levin Synagogue in the veteran housing project in Netanya.
