Netanel Aharon

Netanel (Tani), son of Ora and Yehuda, Holocaust survivors, was born on the 19th of Sivan 5711 (23.6.1951) in Kvutzat Be'erot Yitzhak.

He studied at the "Modi'im" elementary school in Be'erot Yitzhak-Nehalim, and afterwards completed his studies at the high school shared by the farms of the religious kibbutz movement, in Sde Eliyahu in the Beit She'an Valley, in the agro-mechanics track. He was a diligent and studious pupil, and excelled in technical drawing. On his many nature excursions he acquired a wealth of knowledge in the various fields of nature: shrubs and flowers, birds and butterflies, wild animals and insects. Tani was beloved by his teachers for his great creativity.

His teacher relates: "God endowed him with a penetrating, inquiring mind; he always kept searching, and these searches were an act of courage, for in the midst of his great doubts he went to study at a yeshiva. His search was sincere and not superficial. He did not adopt conventions without examining them." Such was his attitude toward religious values. For this reason he returned to study at the "Yeshivat HaHar" in Kfar Etzion, after completing his studies.

He was a member of the "Bnei Akiva" movement and of the religious sports organization "Elitzur", and took part often in sporting events, especially races, and was awarded many sports medals. He also took part in the film "Nua, Nua, Ruz" ("Move, Move, Run"), produced by the IDF Physical Education Branch.

When he entered high school he was shy and quiet, small and slight, but he soon took a central place among the children, the place of the natural leader. He was modest and gentle, noble and pleasant in manner, good-hearted and smiling.

He was blessed with the soul of a gifted artist, a lover of beauty, and devoted himself to many fields of art. Tani drew and illustrated often, and also took part in decorating the public institutions of the farm, such as the school, the dining hall and the group's sukkah. With an artist's hand he created in wood and metal, in paper and flowers, and designed lampshades and jewelry with creative talent.

Netanel was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of November 1970 and was posted to the Armored Corps. After completing basic training he took a course in the trades of the "Centurion" tank, a tank commanders' course and an armored officers' course. Afterwards he served for a year and a half in the "Barak" Brigade as deputy company commander on the Golan Heights, and also took part in IDF raids across the Lebanese border. For this he was awarded the "Operational Service Medal". In his IDF service his technical ability was fully realized. He saw his military service as a national calling, and his comrades knew to value him as an excellent officer, modest, diligent and devoted, who saw great importance in maintaining proper human relations between himself and his subordinates.

On the day the Yom Kippur War broke out, his company was deployed in the southern sector of the Golan Heights. His unit fought a stubborn delaying battle against the Syrian armored forces that were trying to break through to the Oil Road. During the battle Netanel was cut off from the rest of the force and the tank under his command was hit, but he survived. In territory held by the Syrians he made his way on foot, tirelessly, among the enemy's advancing tanks until he reached the Upper Customs House. When he reached our lines he climbed aboard a tank of one of the reserve units and continued to fight in the delaying and breakthrough battles. He fought with courage and instilled calm and confidence in soldiers and commanders, who therefore called him "the quiet commander".

On the 15th of Tishrei 5734 (11.10.1973), Tani took part in a battle conducted by the tank force that was the first to break through to the Kuneitra-Damascus road. Near the village of Khan Arnabeh he was hit by anti-tank fire and killed.

He was laid to eternal rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. He left behind a father, a mother, a brother and a sister. After his death he was promoted to the rank of Captain.

On 8.5.1975 he was awarded the "Medal of Distinguished Service" for his valor in battle, and this is the text of the citation: On 6 October 1973, Captain Netanel Aharon, of blessed memory, was deputy company commander in the battalion. His company was deployed in the southern sector of the Golan Heights, split into platoon-sized detachments. At the start of the fighting he took part in halting the advance of the Syrian armor on the "Oil Road", and after he was cut off from the force and the tank he commanded was hit, he withdrew on foot through territory held by the Syrians, among the advancing Syrian tanks, as far as the Upper Customs House, where he boarded a tank of the reconnaissance patrol of a reserve division and continued with them in the delaying and breakthrough battles. In the breakthrough battle into Syria, opposite Khan Arnabeh, he was hit and killed. These deeds show courage, resourcefulness and devotion to the mission, and serve as an example.

In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family his commander wrote: "Tani was beloved by his soldiers, and his commanders held him in the highest regard. He carried out every mission assigned to him with a devotion worthy of note."

The reconnaissance battalion in which he served published a booklet called "Eleh Ezkera" ("These I Remember"), containing a description of the battles and words of appreciation for the fallen of the battalion; in the weekly "Bamahane" an article about Tani was published, called "The Hands Are an Artist's Hands", containing words about his artistic talent.