Sela, Yosef

Son of Miriam and Shalom, was born on December 17, 1962, to parents from Morocco who immigrated to Israel in 1954 and were among the founders of Moshav Dishon in the Upper Galilee. The school principal remembers him as “quiet”, shy, polite, sociable and willing to help others. He respected his teachers and made every effort to succeed in his studies. He studied at the “Mikveh Israel” agricultural school and completed his studies at the “Havat Hashomer” high school in Ilaniya, in an internal framework. His friends recall how, when he returned to the boarding school from a Shabbat holiday, he distributed all the delicacies and apples he had brought from his home in the moshav. Yossi was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in early November 1980. He was first stationed in the IAF, and after completing a course he was appointed as a jet mechanic. His turbulent spirit did not satisfy him, so he demanded to move to a combat unit. Yosef was transferred to the liaison corps, trained as a radio operator and found his place on the front line. When the Peace for Galilee War broke out, Yosef went with his unit to Lebanon. On the 25th of Cheshvan 5743 (11.11.1982), Corporal Yosef fell in the line of duty in the Peace for Galilee War. He was laid to rest in the civil cemetery in Moshav Dishon. He left behind his parents and ten brothers and sisters. In his letter of condolence to the family, his commander wrote: “Yossi was loved by all his friends and commanders, and was known in the unit as an outstanding soldier who carried out every mission he was assigned with impeccable dedication and diligence.”