Yarkoni, Yitzhak

Yitzhak, son of Malka and Matityahu, was born on July 23, 1954, in Tel Aviv. He attended the “Bar-Yochai” religious elementary school in his neighborhood of Kiryat Shalom. Afterward, he completed his studies at the “Shevach” high school, with the aim of mechanical frameworks. Isaac was a humble and shy boy. His modesty often reached shyness. As a child he was withdrawn and spent his free time reading books and studying his stamp albums. Stamp collecting was his main hobby and he spent many hours. He was kind and noble and always ready to help and help anyone who needed his help. He was naturally sensitive and gentle, pleasant and full of warmth and love. His special qualities were his sincerity and honesty. In all his actions he sought truth and sought justice. He was a diligent pupil, with a quick grasp and a clear, thorough way of thinking. He strove to get to the bottom of things and understand their origins, and never took facts for granted. He would often inquire and ask his teachers about all the fields he had been interested in and wanted to enrich his knowledge. When he was asked he knew how to answer correctly and his answers were comprehensive and profound. As he grew old, shyness faded and he spent a lot of time with his peers. He was a member of the Scouts youth movement and took part in its activities, in camps and on trips. He took part in social events and sports competitions held in his neighborhood. As a football fan he watched the games and played in the Kiryat Shalom meetings. Isaac had a sensitive soul and expressed his feelings with his brush. He painted a lot and left behind a large collection of paintings depicting his experiences. His teachers and friends mark him as a lover of peace and a pursuer of peace. In one of the essays he wrote, he expressed his hope for achieving peace between the Arab states and Israel and ending the wars in the region. He loved his homeland and in his youth he said he had to be willing to do anything for her. He had devoted a great deal of time to his family, who loved a strong love. He saw himself as responsible for the education of his younger brothers, and indeed he did much to involve them in social activities and went with them on trips around the country. Yitzhak was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in early May 1972. After basic training, he was trained as a crew member of a moving artillery and was sent to serve in an artillery battalion in the Golan Heights and was meticulous in carrying out all the tasks he was assigned. In the battle that took place on the 7th of Tishrei 5740 (7.10.1973), the TAF was attacked in which Yitzhak was directly hit and killed. He was brought to eternal rest in the cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. Survived by his parents and four brothers. After his fall, he was promoted to corporal. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, the commander of the unit wrote: “Yitzhak fought fiercely throughout the fateful afternoon of Yom Kippur and helped to save the State of Israel … Your son Yitzchak came to the rampart as a gunner and thanks to his diligence and skill he quickly advanced to the position of deputy commander. And his commanders. “