YAKOV/JACOB EISENBERG^[1]
SON OF LIBA AND SHMUEL CHAIM EISENBERG

 He was born upon their arrival in the land in the year 1923 in February.  He grew up and was educated in a house of workers and at an early age went out to work to help his father who had a family of seven people to support.  Jacob loved his work and every day he happily went out to work in the orchards.  He lived for his work.  As time went by, he transferred to construction work, learned the subject and specialized in it to the point where few people could compete with him. 

Jacob was educated in the pioneer movement. When the time came for him to go to the kibbutz he was already engaged (to be married) and wanted to set up his home and family.  Therefore he did not go to the kibbutz but remained in the city and set up his house in 1945.

Slowly Jacob began to build his own house.  He bought a parcel of land and with and the help of his father and brothers he began building.  In the meantime he had a daughter whose name was Yael.

But fate was cruel and didn’t allow him to continue his life quietly.  In 1948 the war of independence broke out and everyone was called to serve in the army to protect Israel.  Jacob, like everyone else, left his family and home to serve in the defense forces.  While he in the army it was suggested that he take a course in explosives.  He agreed to this, and it was impossible thereafter for him to return to his home frequently.

He successfully completed the course and excelled in placing mines.  There is an old saying that a demolitionist who makes one mistake in his life never gets to make a second mistake.

He served in this fashion until three days after Rosh Hashanah in 1948, when the army went out to chase the enemy from its three borders and to free the central part of the country.  Jacob’s unit had the task of freeing the settlements around ‘Pardes Chana’ and ‘Yakov Zichron’.

His unit completed his task successfully; however, Jacob and his group went to search out the way the enemy infiltrated the country.   Jacob was wounded while he was laying mines and died.  His friends were unable to save him.  They could only bring his body home for burial.

So came to an end the life of Jacob who was unable to enjoy his days and didn’t finish building both his family and his house.  A heaviness fell upon his family and friends.  However, with the establishment of the State there was consolation for the loss.

May his soul be bound up among the living.

                                             Shmuel Chaim Eisenberg (Chadera, Israel)