Yossi Aptalon

Yossi Aptalon began life as Sigmund (Ziggy) in 1946 in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan, the third child of parents Kuba and Vella, and brother to Nina and Aliza, his older sisters who loved him very much. The harsh conditions at the end of World War II forced the family to split up: his sisters immigrated to Kibbutz Ein Harod in Israel with the Youth Aliyah Movement. Ziggy remained with his parents in Poland. It was only when he was four years old that his parents managed to reach Eretz Israel and reunite with their daughters.

At first, the girls lived on the kibbutz, while Ziggy and his parents lived in a transit camp in Motza in Jerusalem. Later, they moved to their own apartment on Donnolo HaRofe Street in Jaffa. Ziggy changed his name to Yossi, and Aptalon almost became Avtalion (an unsuccessful attempt to change the family name).

Yossi spoke of a happy adolescence in Jaffa, and he faithfully maintained contact with some of his childhood friends throughout his life. In the army, Yossi served in the Kirya (Army Headquarters command center) as a wireless operator. There he met Roni, also a wireless operator and the most beautiful and popular soldier on the base. Roni says that the moment she saw Yossi, she knew he was the “one,” but because he was so very shy, she was actually the one who had to start the ball rolling. It was love at first sight, and the couple enjoyed Tel Aviv's nightlife, parties and spending time with their many friends.

After his regular service, while Yossi was in permanent service, Roni and Yossi traveled with friends to Eilat – a fateful trip as they were both injured in a car accident that also included the loss of one of their friends.

The recovery period was long and painful. Yossi lost a hand and had to learn to function in the world again. Throughout, they stayed together, supporting and helping each other, filled with optimism and devoid of self-pity. Once recovered, they got married and rented an apartment in Bat Yam, not far from the sea.

They both began working in the printing and graphics field, eventually opening their own business. Their family expanded, and daughters Netta, Zohar and Adi were born. Roni and Yossi were both industrious and talented, and the business thrived, but they both felt that they were not making enough time for their daughters and family, and started looking for a change. They decided to explore new horizons: to leave the city and move to a kibbutz.

In the 1980s, they came to Kibbutz Be’eri, which welcomed professionals in the printing industry. The couple brought with them a very valuable dowry: a Vari-Typer typesetting machine, the likes of which did not exist on the kibbutz. In addition to their technological and professional knowledge, they also brought their unique character to the kibbutz: Roni, fiery and sharp-tongued; Yossi, gentle and compliant. Both had a wonderful sense of humor and a great love of culture: cinema, literature and music. They passed this rich world on to their daughters and Tomer, their son, who had since been added to the family.

Roni and Yossi felt that they had successfully combined their professional and ideological worlds with their love of family. Yossi invested many hours in nurturing his children's abilities in sports and music. He loved doing “wake-up duty” and going along on their annual trips.

As a very loving and family-oriented man, Yossi made sure to maintain a personal and special connection with all four of his children, who live on the kibbutz, and with all his grandchildren: Shani, Amit, Hadas, Nahar, Gomme, Alin, Nir, Shahar, Maayan, Ella, Yoel, Omri and Gili.

In the 1990s, Yossi decided to engage in community activities. He studied social work and got involved in education in the kibbutz. He took advantage of his social acumen to connect with every age group and to impart values to the young and adolescent generations. In the kibbutz, he took on new positions, such as "work coordinator," administrator of the member’s forum, and more. All the teenagers who met Yossi remember him with deep appreciation and affection. His ability to converse with everyone at eye level paved a path to everyone's hearts.

Over the past decade, Yossi had become intensely involved in creating the kibbutz archives and documenting the histories of individuals, families and the kibbutz. He also made time to express his rich personal and artistic ideas through painting. Recently, he finished writing a book about his wife Roni, who died two years ago.

Upon learning of his murder, his cousin Carmela said, "The world is a sorrier place since he left it... This wise, generous, loving, sensitive, ethical man will be deeply missed by his immediate family, his extended family, his kibbutz friends, his childhood friends, and the entire world."

May his memory be a blessing.