Tafesh, Saleh

Ben Ida and Kassem. He was born on March 1, 1971 in Beit Jann. He attended elementary school and high school in his village. Saleh grew up in a warm home full of love and was educated on the values ​​of human love, helping others and loving the homeland. And indeed he always helped others and everyone who turned to him for help. He was optimistic and smiling, and his classmate testified: “We met you as a friend, a trusted brother, we met you as a beloved classmate and everyone liked him.” Saleh loved to travel around the country with his friends and traveled almost everywhere, from Metula to Eilat. In August 1990, after completing his matriculation exams, Salah was drafted into the IDF and volunteered for the infantry, and after being trained as a combat soldier, he was assigned to the Infantry Minorities Unit and took part in operational activities in the territories and in southern Lebanon. Combat soldier and fighter, and thus describes his company commander: “Everyone loved Salah. Soldiers and commanders alike. Especially when he had a sense of humor. Sympathetic and acceptable to everyone. He was a paramedic who gave you a good feeling on every mission and could be trusted with his eyes closed. “The unit commander added:” Salah was willing to work, never complained but always said: “You can overcome everything with a little motivation and endurance.” His friends were accustomed to his happy mood, cheerful character and constant good mood. “On April 6, 1992, in the area of ​​the village of Hula in southern Lebanon, a convoy of IDF commanders was ambushed by terrorists and suffered casualties. Saleh, who was in a nearby security force, was summoned to help. He identified wounded people lying in the field under fire in a difficult situation and losing much blood and began treatment. Refusing to listen to the wounded’s requests to leave and move away, until he was injured and lost his life. He fell like a hero and was brought to rest in Bet-Gan. Survived by his parents, three sisters – Adla, Hiam and Aida, and two brothers – Nahi and Lutfi. He was promoted to sergeant after his fall. In his eulogy, the commander of the brigade said: “When the sounds of the battle faded, you were lying next to the wounded who were treating them, and you lay there with no spirit. You came to save lives and gave your life. That’s how I learned about your nobility. I wrote to you all the time, ‘A paramedic will stick and be careful, shoot’ and you insisted on treating the wounded. “In a letter of condolences to the family, then-defense minister Moshe Arens wrote:” Saleh sacrificed his life to save the lives of his comrades. He was a disciplined soldier, quiet, devoted, responsible and of a high personal level, full of motivation and a strong desire to serve, to instill it in others and help them. The memory of the late Sgt. Salah Tafesh is sacred and we were deeply rooted in our hearts. ” “He fell like a true hero and presented us with very high challenges and standards at the level of activity and execution, standards that will be seen in front of our eyes along the way as fighters and commanders.” The Beit Jann High School published a pamphlet in his memory, which included a lecture on his character. The Jewish Students’ Organization in Rome and the Bnei Yisrael organization in the United States planted trees in his memory in the forests of the Jewish National Fund.