Shoftan, Shimon

Shimon, son of Bianca and Zygbert-Eliezer Shoftan, was born on September 13, 1927, to a Zionist family in the city of Silesia in the region of Silesia. On March 23, 1934, at the age of seven, his parents immigrated to Israel. Shimon first studied in Jerusalem, at the Tachkemoni School, and later in Ben Shemen, and then lived in Tel Aviv. After graduating he studied and began to work in orthopedics. He was a lover of classical music. When Shimon was 18 he enlisted in the police and served with the police force of the Jewish settlements in the valley, first in Ramat David and later in Ginegar. On September 30, 1947. He joined the ranks of the Palmach. Shimon fought at the base of Kiryat Anavim and fell in battle during an encounter with Arab forces near Neve Ilan on the 20th of Adar I 5708 (March 1, 1948). Shimon, who was also a paramedic, took one of his wounded comrades out of the battle and saved the life of the man himself. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Kiryat Anavim.