In the Negev on Wednesday morning, mourners mourned the death of two residents of the area in the Gaza campaign. Yochai Gur Hershberg, 52, from Philip's farm, was killed in a military car accident that took place yesterday afternoon near the Yemen field.
Sergeant Major Jonathan Malka (23) from Be'er Sheva, an armored soldier in the 82nd Battalion in the "Saar Megolan" Brigade (7), fell in battle in the Gaza Strip.
Lt. Col. Yochai Gur Hershberg, z"l, photo: none
The car accident, in which Hershberg was killed, occurred when heavy rain fell in the area between a military truck and a private vehicle serving in the army. "This was a very serious accident between the vehicle and the truck," said MDA paramedic Shafir Boatner, who arrived at the scene, "A 50-year-old man was trapped inside the vehicle unconscious and suffering from severe multi-systemic injuries, we performed medical tests but he was without signs of life and we had to pronounce him dead."
Hershberg continued on the farm he managed near Kiryat Gat, the legacy of his late father Philip. On the farm, which was one of the main attractions in the area, you could ride ATVs and donkeys, and enjoy paintball shooting.
Already in the 50s, Philip Sr. moved to the south, with his two friends from Gedera, Yeshaya Henkin and Yehezkel Lvovitz, and together they sowed some 80,000 dunams of Negev lands, Kiryat Gat in the south during austerity and famine, Philip's partners returned to Gedera, but throughout the years he continued to raise cattle and sow wheat in the Negev. The farm is a partial remnant of those areas from seed, which Philip guarded from the 50s, in 1993 Philip died at the age of 85. Since then, the farm has been managed by Yochai and his family, who moved to permanent residence on the farm in 1997. Lt. Col. Hershberg's funeral will take place today at 16:00 at the cemetery in Gedera.
Jonathan Malka, who fell in battle in Gaza, was the son of Ronit, the beloved and mythological teacher of the Amit Be'er Sheva comprehensive school.
"Staff and students from AMIT Be'er Sheva are mourning and saddened with Ronit and the Malka family over their son's heroic pass," the school said in a statement.
Sergeant Major Jonathan Malka, Photo: IDF Spokesperson
His cousin, Revital Cohen, wrote: "Sweet Jonathan, beloved cousin, righteous, brave, smiling and beloved soldier - this smiling picture, it's just you! It doesn't sit well with the words "allowed to be published" – always, always, always with a captivating smile, giving, caring, caring and love for your surroundings. It is said that God takes the best, sanctifies the near. There is no doubt that you will add a lot of holiness to the Shechina.
"Take care of your hurting parents, your older brothers. About two-thirds left without you, hurting and overwhelmed, you are the smallest of them all. But the greatest is undoubted. Sweet June your smile will never leave us. Pray from above for all the fighters and for our country. Love you. May your memory be blessed."
The funeral will take place today at 14:30 p.m. on Mount Herzl.
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