Shalom-Itzhak Yodkovitch

Shalom-Yitzhak, son of Shoshana and Moshe, who immigrated to Israel in 1936, the sole survivors of their extended families, who perished in the Holocaust, was born on the 7th of Nisan 5712 (2.4.1952) in Tel Aviv.

Shalom completed his studies at the "Horev" elementary school in Ramat Gan and continued to study at the "Nachal Yitzhak" Yeshiva in Nehalim and at the Ironi High School in Ramat Gan. His educator testifies about him that "he was beloved by his teachers and by his comrades. His shrewdness was great, he had an unusual wisdom about life, and his understanding was profound." Another teacher relates: "Shalom had a sharp mind and was a scholar of Torah, in whom love of Israel and love of man were embodied; he was modest and humble and a good friend, always ready to help others."

He had an immense power of concentration; he read a great deal, and his reading was extremely varied, from encyclopedias to light literature, and when he was absorbed in reading he did not notice anything around him. And since his extensive reading was accompanied by a strong memory, in his adult years he could quote whole chapters from books he had read in childhood. His great love of the game of chess also suited these traits. Shalom played it often, and when he could not find a friend to play with, he used to play against himself... He expressed his love of music by playing the accordion and by listening to records, those of others and his own, which he had begun to collect, and the collection remained at its beginning... His other hobbies were going to the cinema, trips around the country, and his stamp album.

Shalom-Yitzhak was cheerful and had an unusual sense of humor, as his friend relates about him: "Hearty laughter and joy of life were a defining trait of his. A witty answer was always on the tip of his tongue... Shalom laughed and smiled, not out of ignorance of life, and certainly not out of casting off the yoke, but out of a clear knowledge that without a smile, without a little irony, we could not stand up to things as they are." He loved simplicity and was content with little; he stayed away from routine and always sought new ways of doing things. His friends loved him for his good heart, for being easy to get along with, generous of heart and open-handed. He was upright, a man of truth and of conscience. To his parents he was a loyal and devoted son, and he held them in great respect.

Shalom was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of February 1971 and was posted to the Artillery Corps. He turned down an offer to serve close to home, as he wished to serve in a combat unit. After basic training he completed a basic course for Hatam signals, a squad commanders' course, an officers' course, and a basic course for Hatam officers. After completing the officers' course he was offered a post as an instructor at one of the bases in the center of the country, but he turned down this offer too.

Shalom was an excellent observation officer, responsible in his duty, devoted and caring toward his soldiers. For those of his subordinates who were of limited means, he brought underwear from his home. His commanders wrote of him in their evaluation: "Shalom Yitzhak is an officer whose desire to succeed is strong, and he invests great efforts in it. He willingly accepts every task laid upon him and carries it out with diligence and perseverance." His fellow officer testified about him that "one of his traits that endeared him to his comrades was his ability to view every phenomenon through humor. This trait was a source of release for his comrades, since they spent most of their time in nerve-racking tension." His commanders awarded him the Operational Service Medal.

He did his military service, as a soldier and as an officer, on the Golan Heights, the plateau to which he was bound with every fiber of his soul, and where he hoped to build his home once he was released from compulsory service. When the Yom Kippur War broke out he was at an Air Force base somewhere, in the post of observation officer, a post he filled from time to time on a rotating duty with other officers.

On the 15th of Tishrei 5734, the first day of Sukkot (11.10.1973), while on an aerial patrol in the Quneitra area, Shalom-Yitzhak fell in battle. He was awarded the Medal of Distinguished Service, and the account of the battle states: "On 11 October 1973, Lieutenant Shalom Yudkovich, of blessed memory, took part as an air observation officer in a mission to support ground forces during their breakthrough on the Golan Heights. In the course of the operation it was necessary to take risks over and above the limits dictated in the orders, in order to carry out the mission in full. As the aircraft in which he was flying approached the front line, it was hit by a missile. The aircraft crashed, and Lieutenant Yudkovich, of blessed memory, was killed. In this act Lieutenant Shalom Yudkovich, of blessed memory, displayed exemplary courage and devotion to the mission."

With Shalom in the aircraft were also a pilot and two air scouts, and they were shot down over territory that was held by the Syrians. After four days of fighting the area was liberated and his body was found. He was laid to eternal rest in the military cemetery at Kiryat Shaul. He left behind a father, a mother and a sister. After his death he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: "Shalom-Yitzhak was a quiet and devoted soldier, an excellent officer and an exemplary friend. He held fast to the missions that were laid upon him and was upright beyond compare. Every mission, even the hardest, he accepted with love and without complaint." Another commander wrote: "He carried out his duties thoroughly. He spared himself no effort in order to fulfill the instructions given to him in the most meticulous manner."

His parents published a booklet in his memory, containing words about his character, letters and photographs; words in his memory were also written in the booklet published in memory of the fallen of the "HaRa'am" Battalion. In the hall of the "Nachal Yitzhak" Yeshiva in Nehalim, on the 5th of Tishrei 5736, a ceremony was held to mark the completion of the writing of a Torah scroll in memory of the yeshiva's students who fell in Israel's wars, and Shalom-Yitzhak was among them.