Yaffa, Moshe
Moshe, son of Sarah and Reuven, was born on July 4, 1952 in Nahalal, and after studying at the elementary school in Nahalal, he continued his studies at the “Sammat” high school in Haifa. When he was a child, he was able to build and repair various instruments and equipment, and always insisted on achieving a high standard of performance. That in order to achieve a high level of quality, he sometimes reached the absurd. “He was serious about his approach to life and was smiling, laughing, sociable and loving others. Bio called the nickname “Moshele.” Moses was drafted into the IDF in early February 1971 and was assigned to the intelligence corps, however, asked for a transfer to a combat unit and volunteered Armored Force. After basic training, and after completing a course for an intelligence technician, he was sent to a course for armor professions and a course for tank commanders. He completed an officer’s course and an armored officer course, was stationed as a guide at the Armored Corps School and was awarded the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was an excellent officer and a friend who liked everything, and his commander wrote about him: “An officer with high professional knowledge, who has the data for success, is fair and disciplined.” Moshe stood out as an excellent guide who devoted all his efforts to impart knowledge to his students, and to this end he took unusual ways, both in the teaching method and the training aids he built with his own hands. He had reservations about military life but was always disciplined and loved the armor. He had a special attitude toward his apprentices, and he demanded a lot from them, but never more than he demanded of himself. He was always faithful and dedicated to his family, always helping his father with his work, and was deeply attached to his young wife, who always tried to be with him, hurried back to her during vacations and even took him with him sometimes to participate in armor training. In the Yom Kippur War, Moshe took part in the braking battles against the Egyptians on the Sinai front. In the battle that took place on the 12th of Tishrei 5734 (October 8, 1973) Moses was hit and killed. He was laid to rest in the civil cemetery in Nahalal. Survived by a wife, parents and brothers. After his fall, he was promoted to lieutenant. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander from the Armored Corps School wrote: “Moshe’s image was prominent because of his high professional level, technical sense and above all, the initiative in the act. A friend of the family wrote: “A guy like this, who even a religious person needs courage to say that God himself can not create such wonderful things.”
