Rotenberg, Chaim
Son of Miriam and Israel, was born on December 7, 1930 in Tel Aviv. After graduating from elementary school, he began to study in high school, but as a member of Hashomer Hatzair, he left school and went with his friends to agricultural training, and later to a training program at Sha’ar Ha’amakim. He contributed his part in love to the farm and became the living spirit in the group singing, chassidic dancing and playing with a harmonica. Haim was nicknamed “white” because of his light curls. After two and a half years of training, he was about to move with the nucleus to settle in Lahavot Habashan, but in the meantime the War of Independence broke out and the members of the nucleus were mobilized for war. Chaim participated in the six days of the Mishmar Ha’emek system and the Waldheim Conquest, and after the declaration of the state was summoned with his friends to help the cereal in the “Man against the Armored Corps” system. From the attack on Degania Aleph, he left safely, and when the attack on Degania B passed out, he and three other members of the organization were in her care. Two fell in the road and he and another one crept to the front post of Degania Bet. He took part in a counter-attack on an open plain and when he reached the position he was hit by a shell and fell on the 11th of Iyar 5708 (May 20, 1948). He was brought to eternal rest in the cemetery in Degania Bet. His memory was included in the booklet “For the Ten Fallen” published by the “Eretz Israel Kibbutz”.
