Scepter, Joseph

Yosef ben Yehya and Margalit, was born onthe 19th of Kislav, November 26, 1934 in Jerusalem. During his childhood, the country was under British rule and as a youth Yosef took part in the underground. During the siege he went out to help the elderly bring water to their homes and to take care of their needs. He was exceptionally courageous and at the age of seventeen forced his parents to allow him to enlist in the IDF in order to contribute to Israel’s security. Yosef was recruited in May 1955 and assigned to the infantry. Several times he was injured during his service. Once while serving on Mount Scopus, where he was hit by a bullet fired by the Jordanians. On another occasion he was injured by gas poisoning. After finishing amy service he began to work as a taxi driver in Jerusalem. On one of the harsh winter days of Jerusalem, he put chains on wheels of his taxi, and took patients to hospitals, free of charge. Yosef had three children, and was devoted husband and father. As a soldier he was loved by his friends and commanders for his integrity, his decency, his willingness to help others, and his cordial attitude to every man in the unit. On the 7th of Elul, September 6th, 1978, Yosef fell in during his military duties. He is buried in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, leaving behind a wife, two sons and a daughter, parents, four brothers and a sister.