YISRAEL ZEMEL

The Son of Rachel and Chaim, pioneers of the second Aliyah, was born on the 3rd day of Adar 5675 (February 17, 1915) in kevutzat Merhavia. In 1921, his parents moved to moshav Nahalal and were among its founders. Israel finished the ten grades of the school and was known for his diligence in studies and reading books and faithfulness to everything he undertook. Even his mischievousness did not detract from the teachers' affection for him. He grew up working on his parents' farm and was a tough-talking and slow-moving guy, closed in on himself, but liked by a few friends to whom he opened his heart. He really liked to listen to classical music, in which he found a living expression of a lively soul. Israel often played and sang in order to express in this way what he was unable to express in speech. In 1933 he joined the local "Hagannah", was in charge of the "Slick" (clandestine arms store) and trained in sabotage. That same year he volunteered for shifts on orchards in Sharon - in the war for Hebrew labor.
He always responded to any call for help for the individual and the public. He was among the initiators of introducing the branch of sheep breeding to Nahalal and with two other local youths he bought a flock of sheep and became a shepherd. In 1936, he participated in the action to organize Nahalal youths for settlement in Shimron and became one of the first. The organization belonged to a group, which took in a young group of Degania apprentices and together they went to the settlement in Hanita and Israel accepted the responsibility for the sheep breeding industry as having a lot of experience in it. He also participated in guarding the place and protecting it and thanks to his honesty and simplicity he was liked by his friends and he hoped to find his satisfaction and happiness here. When his younger brother enlisted in the army in World War II, he gave up his ambitions and hopes that were too late to come true, and returned to work on his parents' farm.
In the winter of 1948 he fulfilled his duty in guarding and defense and in early May 1948 he enlisted for full service in the "Golani" brigade. He participated in the battles of Mishmar HaEmek and on the Sajara-Lubia front. Despite an injury he returned to his unit two days before the end of his medical leave.
He moved with his battalion to the Negev and finally participated as a saboteur in Operation Horeb to drive off the Egyptian army from Israel. In the third attack by an APC on a signpost near Rafah, he was hit and fell early in the morning on Tuesday, Tevet 5709 (January 4, 1949). He was laid to rest in the Nahalel cemetery.