Wax, Yehuda

Son of Tzvia and Haim-Zvi, was born on Purim in Lithuania on March 19, 1916. He attended elementary school and was a watchmaker by profession. In 1935 Yehuda immigrated to Israel and became a member of the Haganah and the security forces. During the 1936-1939 riots he dwelled in Tiberias and was active in defending the area and the surrounding areas and in guarding posts against the rampaging Arab rioters. He was a member of Wingate’s “Night Cruises” and took part in many dangerous activities. From Tiberias Yehuda was sent to Bat Shlomo and would guard the vineyard until the end of the day. With the outbreak of the War of Independence he was one of the first recruits. When Yehuda said goodbye to the family, he said: “A homeland precedes all.” Yehuda served in the Oded Brigade. He was devoted with all his heart and soul to every position he was assigned during the Hagana and served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, and was exemplary to his friends. Yehuda spent all his days at the front and participated in many battles. On the 5th of Tamuz, July 12, 1948, during Operation Brosh to destroy the Syrian bridgehead in the Mishmar Hayarden area, he was wounded in the battle and died on the same day, and was brought to eternal rest in the military cemetery in Safed. Yehuda left a wife, a young daughter and a 9-month old baby.