Shifras, Daniel
Son of Miriam and Zalman, was born in October 1926 in Degania Aleph and was the 25th child born there. He completed the joint school for the Jordan Valley and the subsequent classes, and later worked in the economy. He was a member of the Haganah, a refugee-partisan from the town of his father who visited the country, told the father that all his family, about 25 people, had been murdered by the Nazis. The father and the economy refused to grant his request because he was just 18 years old and the economy was in short supply with a labor shortage, but Daniel won his pleas and was allowed to enlist. He completed his military duties in Egypt, Italy and the Netherlands as a veteran and experienced soldier, as well as with regard to assistance to She’erith Hapleitah. He wrote to his teachers with satisfaction: “… once this will benefit the country and such an opportunity must be exploited …” When he was released in August 1946, he returned to work in the economy and served in the Haganah. In December 1948, the United Nations was drafted into a two-state division, serving as a convoy escort between the Jordan Valley and the Jezreel Valley. Was sent to a drivers’ course and later served as a liaison officer at the command post, first as a motorcycle rider and later in a pickup truck. On March 15, 1948 he excelled in the battle of Tzemach in the area of the canteen and the military camp, and his presence gave him a feeling of confidence in his comrades and commander. After standing for 37 consecutive hours, his commander refused to release him with his friends for a short rest, but the refusal of the members to go without him caused him to be released too and went home tired and weary and his shirt stained with the blood of his friend who constantly served him ammunition for his machine gun. On the night of May 17, 1948, he was sent to drive tractors in Poriya to mislead the enemy into thinking that they were armored vehicles and tanks Before he managed to rest and sleep properly, he was called at 8 AM to fight against the enemy who broke the front near a plant, and was severely wounded 200 meters from his home and from his father’s position. Daniel died on 8 Iyar (18.5.1948). He was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Degania Aleph. His daughter, who was born after his death, was named after him, Danielle. His name was mentioned in the book “Storm on a Storm Day” about the war at the gates of Degania.
