Stern, Yoel

Yoel, son of Orna and Gershon Stern, was born on December 12, 1920 in the town of Kidrich, in the Rhineland region and on March 2, 1939 immigrated to Israel to complete his studies in Jerusalem. Upon the outbreak of the War of Independence, he was drafted and served in an intelligence unit in the Jerusalem area. On February 26, 1948, he came to visit his parents’ home next to the Italian consulate. The British guards in this building opened fire on passers-by and one of the victims called for help. Yoel jumped out and saved the wounded man, but he himself was hit by the bullets of the soldiers and died of his wounds on the 17th of Adar 5708 (February 27, 1948). He was buried in Sanhedria. After his death, the songs he wrote were found in his estate and they were gathered in a booklet that was published in his memory. There is also an autobiographical novel in his estate. On the 12th of Elul 5711 (13.9.1951) he was put to rest at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.