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Zakai, Reuven

Zakai, Reuven


Reuven, son of-Batya and Binyamin, was born on August 23, 1935, in Givat Brenner, the first son, after two daughters. He began his studies at the Givat Brenner School of Education, and found a tendency toward real subjects and agriculture-related subjects. He took his first steps in the agricultural farm at the flower nursery and the trees his parents had cultivated. He had a Simcha childhood with his sisters and parents who loved him. From an early age he was distinguished by special character traits; Honesty, self-criticism and humility. In 1951, following the split in Kibbutz Givat Brenner, he moved with his parents to Netzer Sireni. He completed his studies in a “combined class” of members of the Union of Kibbutzim and Kibbutzim in Ramat Rachel, and later studied at the Midreshet Ruppin School. Reuven was drafted into the IDF in early February 1954. After basic training he completed a course for squad commanders and a course for infantry officers and was assigned to the Nahal Brigade. He was appointed commander of the infantry unit in the Gaza Strip and served in the Gaza Strip and Rafah operations in 1956. In 1956, he was discharged from the regular army and was assigned to the Harel infantry brigade, where he served as commander of the armored infantry division in the Sinai Campaign “He said. During the Six-Day War, his brigade participated in the occupation of the outposts north of Jerusalem. Reuven commanded the platoon that occupied the outpost in Sheikh Abdul Aziz. Although he was wounded in the battle, he completed the mission he was assigned and led his men to conquer the outpost. His leadership and courage in this battle was commendable. Every year he was called for periods of reserve service, and served in the Jordan Valley and Sharm el-Sheikh. In 1971, Reuven was married to Nira, a member of the Hulda group, and their first year was spent in Netzer-Sereni, where their eldest daughter, Einat, was born. Their son, Uzi, was born in 1958. Reuven worked in the various sectors of the agriculture and took over every position and mission in 1960. In 1960, he studied for the coordinators of the Ruppin Midreshet, and for three years was the center of the agriculture in the Hulda group. An old dream when he began to work in a garage for agricultural machinery, and over the years prepared himself for this work, became familiar with the structure of agricultural machines, the ways of The work in the garage was a favorite of him, and he joined the staff, most of whom were younger than him and inexperienced, in a pleasant atmosphere, giving the workers experience and creating a rare human relations system that formed a dedicated team of employees and loyal to each other. In 1972, the youngest daughter of Nira and Reuven Hanna was born, and Reuven was looking forward to the birth of his 14-year-old daughter, who decided to devote his time to caring for his daughter, The development of the daughter, which brought great happiness to the family. On the eve of the Yom Kippur of 1973, he celebrated the first birthday of Hannah, and was a family man who devoted himself to his home, his wife and children, shared his children’s childhood experiences, was interested in their studies and was an educator and mentor. And the feeling that this was the way of life he wanted, he was a farmer who loved his work and found satisfaction in the work of the land and in the life of the agriculture, and he was responsible for coordination between the various branches and for the proper operation of the agricultural farm He devoted many hours to his work, was thorough, punctual, and aspired to make peace Reuven was accepted by the members of the kibbutz, he liked society and succeededDevelop sincere relationships and friendship with many of your friends. That is why we have chosen to fill many positions in the kibbutz. He won the trust of the members of the agriculture in matters relating to individual life in society. He spent his leisure time, after the long day of work, in the bosom of the family, knew how to respect his older parents and appreciated their work and found topics to discuss with his wife’s parents who were among the founders of the Hulda group. Reuven was a man of culture and art lover. He read a lot of literature and was always ready to deal with a theoretical book or novel, which was considered difficult to read. Many letters are stored in his home, which he wrote when he was on reserve duty or on trips, including his ability to express himself and his ability to describe past experiences. He studied on his own and studied courses in chemistry, physics and drawing. He liked to listen to music and especially to classical music, and occasionally went to see a theater or a movie. Reuven liked to travel in Israel. He led trips as a counselor in the youth brigade of the Union of Kibbutzim and Kibbutzim and even traveled with his family. During the summer he went swimming in the sea and in the swimming pool and even participated, with his daughter and son, in the popular catch of the Sea of ​​Galilee. His friends and acquaintances found him to be a man of many characteristics – a man of work, a family man, a friend, a man of experience, judgment and a desire to increase knowledge. The intellectual, who read and studied a great deal, a man who traces the roots of things and wonders about their essence. A man who combined seriousness and responsibility with the joy of life and love that surrounds him. In the Yom Kippur War, he was called to his unit, which participated in the battles of containment and infiltration against the Egyptians in the Sinai. On the 8th of Tishrei 5734 (8.10.1973), in the battle that took place in front of Ismailia, the company’s company commander, Reuven, was hit. Six months later, the six half-tracks were brought to a mass grave on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. He left behind a wife, two daughters and a son, parents and two sisters. After his fall, he was promoted to captain. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, the battalion commander wrote: “Captain Reuven served in our unit as a deputy commander of the Armash company, and proved himself to be an excellent, courageous and devoted professional. His parents planted a garden in his memory in the yard of the house in Netzer Sireni; A memory garden with a play area for children is being built in Kibbutz Hulda. His comrades in the unit published a booklet entitled “At noon on Yom Kippur”, containing a story about the battalion’s fighting and things about Reuven’s character.

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