Zehavi (Zohary), Yisrael (York)

The only son of Naha and Aharon was born on May 16, 1922 in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, to an educated and wealthy family and was involved in its culture. After being attacked because he is a Jew, Yisrael joined his Jewish friends in the Akiva Zionist youth movement. At the beginning of the Second World War, he escaped from bombed Warsaw to Vilna and from there to Russia. He was sent to a labor camp and joined the Polish army. Yisrael was admitted to an officers’ course and was soon removed from it together with the rest of the Jews. When he arrived in Israel in 1942 as a corporal in the Polish army, Yisroel left the Polish army and joined a training group of the Akiva youth movement in Petah Tikva. He brought in a spirit of cheerfulness and alertness among his friends and encouraged their spirits. Yisrael enlisted in the Palmach and trained for two years while working in Ashdot Ya’akov, Maoz Haim and Givat Hashlosha. On trips throughout the country, he was known as a courageous friend who was not deterred by difficulties in carrying out “the work done for the future.” After two years Yisroel moved to the Reserve unit of the Palmach and took part in various operations, including the diversion of “Wingate Night”. In 1946 Yisrael began to make his home and settled in Rishon Letzion, married and had a son. His life began to be happy after the years of suffering and sacrifice. During the War of Independence, Yisrael could no longer sit in his home, and on April 1, 1948, he arrived at the service. Yisroel first accompanied convoys and later was a fighter in the 7th Brigade. He participated in Operation Ben Nun Bet – the second attack on the Legion in Latrun. In this battle, on the 21st of Iyar, May 30, 1948, a shell hit a vehicle and he fell. Yisroel was buried in Na’an. On the 2nd of Sivan 5705 (18.5.1950) he was transferred to the eternal rest of the military cemetery at Nahalat Yitzhak.