Thirteen years have passed since that bitter day – 18 Elul 5719 – when our beloved son, brother, son-in-law and uncle fell in battle.
|
|
Yiddish translated by Gloria Berkenstat Freund and Hebrew by Yocheved Klausner
Thirteen years have passed since that bitter day – 18 Elul 5719 –
when our beloved son, brother, son-in-law and uncle fell in battle.
He was taken in the prime of his life. He was nineteen-and-a-half but his good qualities were already well known. In his family, he was a model and symbol of “honoring one's parents” and of beautiful manners in relation to his fellows. His way during his studies and army service was diligent and consistent.
His memory is with us always, even during our family celebrations.
His parents Chaia and Ben-Zion Breier and family
| Yeshayahu Breier,
born 12 December 1940 – fell in 1959 |
My sister, Ayala, of blessed memory (daughter of Yakov-Arye and Tsviya
Tenenbaum, of blessed memory) is one of the new heroes, who fell in 1946 at the
hands of the English.
As soon as it was learned that the English handled all general immigration, a volunteer defense group of the best young people was created spontaneously.
When the face-to-face struggle began, when there was a question of surrendering or fighting until the end, Ayala decided to fight. Being hit by a second bullet – she was going to save a comrade – she was mortally wounded and fell on the field of Givat Haim.
There is a memorial at the Givat Haim Kibbutz [communal settlement] and a headstone on the graves of the 9 fallen heroes in Pardes Hanna.
Every year, the entire family stands at the headstone and says
Yisgadal v'yiskadash [Exalted and hallowed… the
opening words of the traditional Kaddish prayer of
mourning]… A deep sadness and strong pain gnaws constantly at
our hearts…
| Ayala Tenenbaum,
born 1926, fell in 1945 |
Shlomo Tenenbaum
 |
 |
|
| Zelig Levinsohn,
fell during the 1936 riots, in the “New Maccabi neighborhood” Tel Aviv |
Shlomo Eliezer Marson,
fell in the line of duty in 1936 |
 |
 |
|
| Azriel Feier | Mordechai Greenbaum,
born 12 December 1934, fell 1 Kislev 5703 (19430) |
We had a brother, and he is no more. His name was Zalman.
He was born in 1950 in Israel and he fell on 21 Sivan 5729, 7 June 1969. He graduated from the elementary school (8 grades) and then studied Textiles in the Vocational High School. He was successful and loved by his teachers and friends. When he graduated from High-School he was recruited to ZAHAL [the Army] and after a short period of service tragedy came and he fell in the line of duty on the shore of the Suez Canal.
I had a brother who was taken from us at the prime of his life. I am sorry that I did not have the chance to see him as a proud soldier – his life was cut short at the beginning of his service.
He was a person whom I admired; he was like a protecting and supporting wall on which I leaned in my childhood years; he was loved by all and a source of pride for me.
He was not only a brother, but a comrade, with whom I could talk and be friendly. We lost our most dear, and we shall never forget him.
Rey Adama… [Behold, O, Earth…]
[Poem by S. Tchernichovski]
Who fell in battle for the defense of our Homeland
Efraim was born in Safed [Tzefat], the town situated in the tranquility of the
Galilee mountaintops. Perhaps this was the secret of the constant spiritual
calm, modesty and courage that accompanied him in his life.
[Page 568]
Efraim was blessed with good qualities. He loved the Bible, devoted most of his
time to its study and followed its ways.
He spent his childhood years in the moshav (village) Tzofit, and when his father went to work in the barracks of the British army in Rafiyach he was the “man in the family” and was responsible for the work on the farm: plumbing, carpentry and building. All he did with his own two hands. He would always express his wish and hope that the day will come when he would study in a vocational school. Study and work were his main aspirations.
He joined the Palmach in the kibbutz Tel-Amal, where they were busy working on the farm and training with weapons. From there they relocated to Kibbutz Sha'ar Ha'amakim and lived in tents, in the pomegranate orchard.
From Sha'ar Ha'amakim they relocated again, to Be'er Ya'akov, as a temporary kibbutz, while their main desire was to establish a permanent kibbutz in the Negev. The moment that they hoped for, soon came: They founded Kibbutz Nirim in the Negev. Efraim worked as a driver, transporting necessary supplies to the besieged Negev, through hostile and mined roads.
And then the 15 of May 1948 came. Nirim was fenced by barbed wire and bunkers; thirty five young men and women with 14 rifles, 4 tommy guns and one machine gun stood proudly and courageously, ready to meet the Egyptian brigade armed with artillery, infantry and tanks, aimed at destroying the small kibbutz. Nirim was bombed and burned. The defenders did not leave, but retreated into the bunkers and waited. With great courage they stood against the Egyptians, who were very close to the fences surrounding the place.
The Egyptian attack was overcome – by courageous young people, with rifles against tanks!
But the price was terrible: 7 men fell in this battle, among them Efraim z”l.
And they were only boys!
|
|
JewishGen, Inc. makes no representations regarding the accuracy of
the translation. The reader may wish to refer to the original material
for verification.
JewishGen is not responsible for inaccuracies or omissions in the original work and cannot rewrite or edit the text to correct inaccuracies and/or omissions.
Our mission is to produce a translation of the original work and we cannot verify the accuracy of statements or alter facts cited.
Krasnik, Poland
Yizkor Book Project
JewishGen Home Page
Copyright © 1999-2024 by JewishGen, Inc.
Updated 28 Jul 2018 by OR