Steiner, Yechiel (Ryszak)

Son of Rosa and Marcus Mordechai, was born on the 11th of Heshvan 5626 (November 11, 1925) in the city of Krakow, Poland. He attended a Hebrew school and finished three grades at the Hebrew Gymnasium until World War II forced him to stop his studies. The Germans imprisoned him with his mother and sister in the ghetto. The Christian maid saved his life when he escaped from the ghetto, but since then the boy was not comforted by his mother, his younger brother and sister, who had to stay there, no more joy and no laughter on his lips. He asked for an outlet in his work and in helping others. On his return to Palestine he crossed the borders of Slovakia and Hungary and reached Romania. Where he was caught and placed in detention. When the Soviet army entered, he was released from prison and immigrated to Israel in 1944. Yechiel joined the Beit Yehoshua group, was accepted to the ranks of the Haganah and became a reconnaissance officer. In the group, four fingers of his right hand were amputated during an accident. Then he moved to Jerusalem and studied bookkeeping. With the outbreak of the War of Independence, he volunteered for the Hagana in Jerusalem despite his Momo. He called Israel very much, and despite his father’s plea, he emigrated to Argentina and did not agree to move to it. Yechiel was appointed as a quartermaster and responsible for supply and equipment in the isolated settlements in the vicinity of Jerusalem and accompanied convoys of supplies and equipment to these communities. His actions inspired him with joy and confidence that he could give his active part to the War of Independence. Yehiel left the convoy for Atarot. Near Shuafat, the convoy was attacked by an Arab mob and in the midst of which all its members were injured. This battle fell on the 13th of Adar 2, 5708 (March 24, 1948). He was buried in Sanhedria. On the 5th of Elul 5711 (6.9.1951), he was put to rest at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.