Shapanov, Yehuda

Son of Pessia and Shmuel. Born in 1913 in the city of Zabno, Poland, he moved with his parents to Tarnow. As a member of a Zionist family, he absorbed his love for the Land of Israel and the aspiration for its revival, and learned the Hebrew language. In 1925 he joined the Hashomer Hatzair movement and, with the participation of his parents, became the home of a committee of emissaries who visited the city. In 1934, after undergoing pioneering training, he immigrated to Palestine as part of the “Massad” immigration kibbutz and joined Kibbutz Tel Amal. A year later, the kibbutz was on the land in the Beit Shean valley. Yehuda gained the trust and affection of his friends for his kindness, love of people and willingness to do for others who were his qualities. On the 13th of Kislev (17.11.1937), when he returned from an arduous day of work in Falah, he was shot from ambush by an Arab gangman and killed on the spot. He was laid to rest in the cemetery of Nir David (Tel Amal). He left a wife-Sabinka, in her ninth month of pregnancy. Three weeks after his death, his daughter, named Yehudit after him, was born. The chapters of his life are included in a memory booklet issued by Kibbutz Nir David and in Davar, an eulogy was published in his memory.