Asaf Simhoni

He is the oldest son of Yehudit Simhonit and Mordecai Simhoni, fifth generation farmers who made Aliyah to Mandatory Palestine in 1921.

Coming from an agricultural settlement near Kherson, Ukraine (then Russian Empire), they settled in Nahalal, the newly established first moshav.

Yehudit Simhonit's father, Moses Yivzori, was an ardent Zionist and a scholar well versed in the Bible and the Talmud.

His house was the meeting place of intellectuals and youth members of the Jewish colonies sought to immigrate to Israel and work in agriculture.

The Simhoni family came to Mandatory Palestine in 1921 becoming one of the founders of the moshav Nahalal, one of the state's first moshav shitufi.

His mother, Yehudit Simhonit, was a Zionist activist and politician - a member of the first Knesset and a member of the Mapai party.

Asaf Simhoni (Also spelled Asaf Simchoni; אסף שמחוני; October 9, 1922 - November 6, 1956 ) was a major general in the IDF, served as head of Northern Command, Assistant Head of Operations Directorate, and later as the Head of Southern Command.

Simhoni headed Israel's main effort during the Suez Crisis.

He died on the night the war ended in a plane crash on the way to Haifa.

Asaf Simhoni was born on October 9, 1922.

In 1931, at the age of nine, the Simhoni family moved to kibbutz Tel Yosef in the Jezreel Valley.

He attended the common school for Ein Harod-Tel Yosef.

In his teens, he stood out in his initiative and involvement in the community.

He was well-versed with all areas of work in the kibbutz, particularly in agriculture and agricultural equipment.

His also spent his time involved in sport as well as playing the trumpet in the brass band of the kibbutz.

In 1938, Simhoni joined the Haganah and actively participated in protecting the region around the kibbutz from Arab attacks.

Simhoni became one of the first volunteers in the Palmach shortly after its establishment on May 15, 1941.

Within two short months, Simhoni was involved in various operations in Syria under the command of Yigal Allon, near the Old Customs House near Katzrin in the Golan Heights.

The purpose of the operation was to cut off the telephone lines of the French army, who collaborated with Nazi Germany, in an attempt to prevent their occupation of areas under Mandatory Palestine.

On June 8, 1943 he married Delilah Aisrzon.

During the first two years of his service in the Palmach, Simhoni served as a platoon commander.

He also served as a guide as part of his unit in the Jezreel Valley, Upper Galilee, and the Negev.

In 1944 he passed a platoon commanders course and was appointed commander of the Palmach's first settlement in Beit Keshet, a small kibbutz in the Lower Galilee near the Kadoorie Agricultural High School.

In 1945 Simhoni was appointed commander of the Gadna (the Youth Battalions) in Haifa.

There he struggled with the British which prevented the entry of illegal immigrants to Israel.

He participated in a number of campaigns that aided illegal immigrants to get to the shores.

On Saturday, June 29, 1946 ("Black Sabbath"), Simhoni was arrested by the British.

He was arrested in Rafah and was detained for five months, being one of the last ones to be released.

Following his release Simhoni returned to the kibbutz.

He worked there until the outbreak of the 1947–1949 Palestine war.

In November 1947, Simhoni returned to service for the Palmach.

He was appointed deputy company commander of the first battalion of the Yiftach Brigade.

Two months later he was appointed company commander.

In the first months of the war Simhoni fought with the regiment against Arab gangs in Haifa, the Western Galilee, Gilboa and Bet She'an Valley.

They also fought in the Battle of Mishmar HaEmek against the Arab Liberation Army of al-Qawuqji.

Simhoni divorced his wife Delilah Aisrzon in 1952.

They had three sons.

His middle son, Avner Simhoni (אבנר שמחוני), was killed in 1968 when a land mine exploded in the Gulf of Suez during the military operations in the War of Attrition.

During the Arab revolt, at the age of 16, Simhoni led a student revolt against the school that refused to participate in the war effort.

He believed in turning to the Haganah for protection.