Mordechai, son of Felicia and Leon, was born on 10.9.1952 in Bucharest, Romania, and immigrated to Israel with his family in Tishrei, 1960. He studied at the “Aliyot” elementary school in Kiryat Gat and continued his high school studies at the Rogozin High School in Kiryat Gat. In the summer of 1971, he successfully passed his matriculation exams. Mordechai, nicknamed “Poczek,” by his friends, was lively and lively. While he was small, he dismantled and reassembled toys, posed questions to adults, and asked to investigate and understand what was going on around him. “Mordecai’s childhood was not normal,” his brother Aryeh said. “My father was in jail for three years, and Mordecai did not know until he was four years old, and my mother was forced to support her family, and Mordecai was raised on the knees of neighbors who saw the child as the treasure of their lives.” Mordechai was seven years old when his family immigrated to Israel, and he adapted to life in Kiryat Gat without difficulty, quickly learned the new language, and even competed with his Moroccan friends to eat spicy foods. At school he was a gifted and diligent student, and his teachers said that he had not invested much effort in order to succeed in his studies. Thanks to his quick grasp and natural talents, he always won excellent grades. He also excelled in the art classes and was always one of the first to finish their work. Therefore, most of the time he was “out of work”, and he always had to help the teacher in his art classes. He had a technical skill and managed to overcome problems in race and motorcycle. After eight years of study he chose to continue his studies at the Rogozin High School in his hometown. “Even in high school, there were no problems with Puchak’s studies,” his mother said, referring to the other activities, which he devoted most of his spare time to. Mordechai was a sports fan, played basketball and participated in darting and cycling competitions. He also practiced swimming and practiced weight lifting. Mordechai participated in the six-day race “from Dan to Be’er Sheva”, and later joined the basketball team of “Maccabi” Kiryat Gat. In his school he was among the leaders of the activists, served as a member of the student council and dealt wisely and skillfully with the problems on the agenda. “Mordechai was independent and found an unconventional approach to the current problems,” Aryeh said. “Mother was not always Simcha about his independence, but even when she was worried and anxious, she could not help watching him with wonder and pride.” At the end of 11th grade he went on a trip to Europe, as part of an exchange of youth, returning to Israel with experiences as a grenade, and many days after his return he told of his exploits and his wonderful friends. Mordechai was drafted into the IDF in early August 1971 and assigned to the Armored Corps. After completing his basic training, he completed a course for drivers and a course for squad commanders and then graduated with honors (95). “In everything Mordechai did, his inclination to do everything was perfect,” his comrades said. Mordecai’s commanders tried to convince him to go to the officers’ course, but he did not accept their request, because he did not like the rigid frameworks of the army, and planned to continue his studies as a soldier. “The registration forms to the Technion were on his desk, and he is all ready for his civilian life,” said his brother Aryeh. During the Yom Kippur War, his armor unit fought on the Sinai front. Mordechai was a half-track driver and fought day and night with the Egyptian forces crossing the Suez Canal. “He fought courageously, out of devotion to the mission and out of recognition that IDF soldiers must win.” On the 8th of Tishrei 5734 (October 8, 1973) Mordechai was injured and killed during a bloody battle on the Tasa-Ismailia route. He was sent to rescue a tank crew caught in enemy fire, and a direct hit of a missile in his half-track killed him and his friends.- In a condolence letter to the bereaved family, the unit commander wrote: “Your son, Staff Sergeant Mordechai Z” “He served in our unit and proved himself to be an excellent professional, courageous and devoted, who was admired by his soldiers and stood out in his desire to help his comrades.”
