Binyamin Persitz, Martyr of the 'Convoy of 35'

משרד הביטחון - דף הנצחה

http://www.bhol.co.il/article.aspx?id=67027

http://www.etzion-bloc.org.il/%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%...

Persits Binyamin

Son of Yizhak and Nehama. Born 18 March 1924 in Kursk, Russia. Came to Palestine with his mother in 1929. (His father, who had been exiled to Siberia for his Zionism, came earlier). Binyamin attended Tahkemoni elementary school and the Hebrew Gymnasia in Jerusalem. He was an excellent pupil, especially in mathematics.He was a member of the Tzofim (scouts) youth movement. After finishing secondary school, Binyamin joined the Palmach (military branch of the Jewish Hagana defense forces) in 1941. Until 1944 he served in Kfar Giladi, Dafna and other places. He was among the most active in the "black job" smuggling immigrants from Syria. Because of this activity the British had his name and photo, and he was wanted by the CED (British Intelligence) and the British army. That is why for quite some time he went underground. Binyamin entered The Hebrew University in Jerusalem and studied the natural sciences and intended to go abroad to study law. As a reservist in the Palmach he took part in several operations: Operation Wingate in Yehuda Halevy Street; Operation "Railway night" - blasting the railway between Jerusalem and Beitar, Operation "night of bridges", and blasting the Allenby bridge on the river Jordan. There, he put explosives at the eastern end of the bridge with such calm that he amazed his comrades, who themselves were not at all inclined to be afraid. As the tension in Palestine grew, he began to learn chemistry in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, but only for a few weeks. With the announcement of independence, he rejoined his unit. He took part in battles in Shaar-haGai and in the supply convoys from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. His company, part of the Palmach regiment which was based in Maale haHamisha and which led the battles at Shaar-haGai, carried out bold missions against the Arab armed gangs in the hills. Binyamin's friends tell of two of his characteristics during this period: (1)when the fighters were at the end of their strength he would tell a joke or tell of some amusing escape, and everyone became refreshed; (2) immediately upon returning to his base he would shower in cold water, change clothes, and look refreshed, as if 20 hours of extraordinary effort had never happened. He had a great encouraging influence on his comrades.

Due to this character he was chosen to be an officer of culture and sent to the relevant course. After strenuously opposing his appointment to this position, he finally felt he must take it on, but accepted only on condition that after finishing the course he would go back to fighting. Meanwhile, a platoon was organized to help the besieged settlements of Gush Etzyon, and he demanded forcefully to be included. All 35 fighters of the platoon were killed in the Hebron hills on 16 January 1948. Binyamin was buried with his comrades in Kfar Etzyon. On 17 November 1949 he was re-buried with all of the heroes of Gush Etzyon in the military cemetery of Har Herzl in Jerusalem At the order of the Head of General Staff he was posthumously promoted from lieutenant to First Lieutenant.

http://c3.ort.org.il/APPS/WW/page.aspx?ws=e6f9290e-ae65-4e41-a9f2-2...

http://www.bhol.co.il/article.aspx?id=67027

http://www.etzion-bloc.org.il/%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%...

http://www.izkor.gov.il/HalalKorot.aspx?id=91824

סגן

פרסיץ, בנימין
תמונת החלל

בן נחמה ויצחק, נולד ביום י"ב באדר ב' תרפ"ד (18.3.1924) בעיר קורסק, רוסיה ועלה עם אמו לארץ בשנת 1929 (אביו, מגולי ציון בסיביר, הקדים לעלות לפניהם). בנימין למד בבית-הספר היסודי "תחכמוני" ובגימנסיה העברית בירושלים והצטיין בלימודיו, בייחוד במתמטיקה. היה חבר תנועת "הצופים" ובסיימו את לימודיו, בשנת 1941, הצטרף לפלמ"ח. הוא שירת בכפר גלעדי, דפנה ועוד, עד שנת 1944. היה בין הפעילים ביותר ב"ג'וב השחור" כפי שקראו להעברת מעפילים מסוריה. בגלל פעולתו זו חיפשוהו אנשי הסי.אי.די. (הבולשת הבריטית) והצבא הבריטי, כי שמו ותמונתו נפלו לידיהם, והוא נאלץ לרדת לזמן רב למחתרת. בנימין נתקבל לאוניברסיטה העברית בירושלים ולמד מדעי-הטבע והתכונן לנסוע לחוץ-לארץ ללמוד משפטים. כ"רזרביסט" (איש מילואים) בפלמ"ח, השתתף במבצע "וינגייט" בעמדה ברחוב יהודה הלוי, במבצע "ליל המסילות", בפיצוץ מסילת-הברזל בין ירושלים לביתר, במבצע ליל הגשרים ובפיצוץ גשר אלנבי על הירדן. הוטל עליו להניח חומר נפץ בקצהו המזרחי של הגשר. קור-רוחו בפעולה זו הפליא גם את חבריו שלא היו כלל מהנוחים להיבהל. עם התגברות המתיחות בארץ חזר בו מכוונתו לצאת לחוץ-לארץ ונתקבל לפקולטה לכימיה באוניברסיטה העברית, שם למד שבועות אחדים בלבד.

עם פרוץ מלחמת-העצמאות חזר והצטרף ליחידה, השתתף בקרבות בשער הגיא ובליווי השיירות בכביש תל-אביב-ירושלים. פלוגת הפלמ"ח שלו, שבסיסה היה במעלה החמישה ושניהלה את הקרבות בשער הגיא, ביצעה משימות נועזות בבערה את הכנופיות אשר בסביבה. חבריו מספרים: בשני דברים התבלט בנימין בתקופה זו: א) כשהלוחמים היו מגיעים עד אפיסת הכוחות היה מספר איזו בדיחה או פולט הלצה - ומחזיר לבחורים את עירנותם; ב) מיד עם שובו לבסיס היה מתקלח במים קרים, מחליף את בגדיו ומופיע רענן כאילו לא עברו עליו כלל 20 שעות של עמל ויגיעה בלתי-שכיחים. השפעתו המעודדת על חבריו היתה גדולה ובגלל תכונתו זו נתמנה לקצין-תרבות. למרות התנגדותו הנמרצת לכך הוכרח לקבל על עצמו את התפקיד הזה, אבל התנה תנאי מפורש, כי לאחר סיום הקורס יוחזר שוב לפעולות-קרב. נמנה עם אנשי מחלקת הל"ה ("מחלקת ההר"), לוחמי פלמ"ח וחי"ש שנשלחו כתגבורת לגוש עציון לאחר ההתקפה הגדולה על הגוש ביום 14.1.1948, לאחר שדרש בתוקף כי יצורף למחלקה. הלוחמים יצאו לדרכם מהרטוב בליל 15-16 בינואר והם עמוסים נשק, תחמושת וציוד, אך בשל שעת היציאה המאוחרת וקשיי הדרך לא הצליחו להגיע לגוש בעוד לילה. עם שחר התגלתה המחלקה על-ידי כפריים באזור הכפרים בית נטיף, ג'בע וצוריף, שהזעיקו את ערביי הסביבה למקום ואלה כיתרו את המחלקה. הלוחמים התארגנו על אחת הגבעות ("גבעת הקרב" כיום) ולחמו בהמוני הערבים עד שנפלו כולם בקרב ביום ה' בשבט תש"ח (16.1.1948). בנימין נקבר יחד עם חבריו בכפר עציון.

ביום כ"ה בחשוון תש"י (17.11.1949) הועבר למנוחת-עולמים, עם שאר חללי הגוש, בבית- הקברות הצבאי בהר-הרצל בירושלים.

(דף זה הוא חלק ממפעל ההנצחה הממלכתי 'יזכור', שנערך ע'י משרד הביטחון)

Persits Binyamin

Son of Yizhak and Nehama. Born 18 March 1924 in Kursk, Russia. Came to Palestine with his mother in 1929. (His father, who had been exiled to Siberia for his Zionism, came earlier). Binyamin attended Tahkemoni elementary school and the Hebrew Gymnasia in Jerusalem. He was an excellent pupil, especially in mathematics.He was a member of the Tzofim (scouts) youth movement. After finishing secondary school, Binyamin joined the Palmach (military branch of the Jewish Hagana defense forces) in 1941. Until 1944 he served in Kfar Giladi, Dafna and other places. He was among the most active in the "black job" smuggling immigrants from Syria. Because of this activity the British had his name and photo, and he was wanted by the CED (British Intelligence) and the British army. That is why for quite some time he went underground. Binyamin entered The Hebrew University in Jerusalem and studied the natural sciences and intended to go abroad to study law. As a reservist in the Palmach he took part in several operations: Operation Wingate in Yehuda Halevy Street; Operation "Railway night" - blasting the railway between Jerusalem and Beitar, Operation "night of bridges", and blasting the Allenby bridge on the river Jordan. There, he put explosives at the eastern end of the bridge with such calm that he amazed his comrades, who themselves were not at all inclined to be afraid. As the tension in Palestine grew, he began to learn chemistry in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, but only for a few weeks. With the announcement of independence, he rejoined his unit. He took part in battles in Shaar-haGai and in the supply convoys from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. His company, part of the Palmach regiment which was based in Maale haHamisha and which led the battles at Shaar-haGai, carried out bold missions against the Arab armed gangs in the hills. Binyamin's friends tell of two of his characteristics during this period: (1)when the fighters were at the end of their strength he would tell a joke or tell of some amusing escape, and everyone became refreshed; (2) immediately upon returning to his base he would shower in cold water, change clothes, and look refreshed, as if 20 hours of extraordinary effort had never happened. He had a great encouraging influence on his comrades.

Due to this character he was chosen to be an officer of culture and sent to the relevant course. After strenuously opposing his appointment to this position, he finally felt he must take it on, but accepted only on condition that after finishing the course he would go back to fighting. Meanwhile, a platoon was organized to help the besieged settlements of Gush Etzyon, and he demanded forcefully to be included. All 35 fighters of the platoon were killed in the Hebron hills on 16 January 1948. Binyamin was buried with his comrades in Kfar Etzyon. On 17 November 1949 he was re-buried with all of the heroes of Gush Etzyon in the military cemetery of Har Herzl in Jerusalem At the order of the Head of General Staff he was posthumously promoted from lieutenant to First Lieutenant.

• Reference: MyHeritage Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jul 22 2021, 18:13:52 UTC
• Reference: BillionGraves Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 22 2021, 18:31:45 UTC