Sosnowski, Yosef (Yossi)

Yosef (Yossi), son of Chaya and Chaim Sosnowski, one of the founders of Kfar Saba, was born on 15 March 1930 in Kfar Saba. After the Partition Plan of the UN General Assembly on November 29, 1947 and the outbreak of the War of Independence, he volunteered for service in the Alexandroni Brigade and served as a machine gunner in his unit. He excelled in his service in defending the Yarkon bridge, in the harassment operations in Kalanswa and Jaljulia, in the conquest of Arab Kfar Saba, Salameh, Hiriya and the Wadi Ara and Ein Shemer battles.During training he was injured twice, but refused to take leave. During his brief vacations, he would encourage his parents, hiding his fatigue and the chronic dangers. During Operation “Ben-Nun A”, the attacking force encountered enemy forces and had to retreat. During the retreat, near the village of Beit Jiz, when his friend told him to throw the Bren machine gun and escape with them, he replied: “We did not receive an order to withdraw, I will not run away and I will not abandon the precious weapon.” He fell in this battle on the 17th of Iyar 5708 (26.5.1948). On the 25th of Cheshvan 5710 (17.11.1949), he was brought to rest with his friends who fell with him in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.