Hero of Israel laureate Avigdorov dead at 83
Abraham Avigdorov, who received IDF's most revered honor for action in War of Independence, dies at 83
Avigdorov was honored for his role in the War of Independence. He will be laid to rest at the Herzliya Military Cemetery on Wednesday.
Related stories:
"He always chose life and said 'there is no such thing as a lost cause,'" said his wife, Aliza Avigdorov.
Avigdorov was born in 1930 to Gad Avigdorov, a member of Hashomer (a Jewish defense organization). In July 1947 Avigdorov graduated from high school and joined the Palmach, an elite fighting force of the Haganah in Mandatory Palestine.
In 1947 Avigdorov was part of a force that took control of an Arab convoy that was carrying weapons from Beirut, Lebanon towards Haifa.
Israeli hero (Photo: Eldan David, GPO)
The IDF awarded Avigdorov with the Medal of Valor for his part in destroying two enemy Bren machine gun positions in Kiryat Motzkin during the War of Independence.
Avigdorov himself was injured during the operation, but managed to change the course of the battle and steer it in favor of Israel.
"They received information that an Arab convoy was leaving Lebanon and that it must be stopped at any price," said Dafi Avigdorov, Abraham Avigdorov's daughter.
"They ambushed the convoy and my father began shooting at it. His actions enabled us to win the battle. He was seriously injured during the battle," Dafi Avigdorov added.
Avigdorov's wife said that "at home he was always a true friend. He was a loving father who loved to cook. After the Yom Kippur War, he would visit bereaved families and soldiers who were injured during the war, and showed them that living with an injury is possible. He always looked ahead at what can be done. I had the privilege of living by his side for 58 years."
To this day, 40 Medals of Valor have been awarded: 12 for actions in the War of Independence. Hero of Israel recipients are automatically awarded the Medal of Valor.
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
