Weiss, Menachem

Son of Rivka and Michael, was born on July 12, 1952 in Russia. Menachem attended elementary school in his hometown and continued to study nine high school classes. In February 1972, he immigrated with his family to Israel when he was 20 years old. The family settled in Ramle, where Menachem studied in a basic Hebrew ulpan. The family immigrated to Israel shortly after the death of the father, and Menahem was given the burden of supporting his family. He worked as a construction worker in Eilat. In July 1973 Menachem joined the IDF and completed training as a truck driver and driver of a heavy vehicle, and fought in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. After he was discharged from regular service, Menahem continued to serve in the reserves as a driver. When the peace agreement with Egypt was signed, the preparations for the Sinai evacuation began. Menachem was drafted into reserve duty to assist in the evacuation of the IDF forces On Friday, June 1, 1979, he fell during his service. He was 27 years old at the time of his death. He was laid to rest at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. He left behind a mother and two sisters. “Menahem, like all his friends, came to serve in the reserves in order to engage in the holy work involved in the peace agreement with Egypt,” he said in a letter of condolence to his family: “Unfortunately, he did not continue to work because of his fall.”