Sgt. 1st Class Natan Dalal, z”l

Sergeant First Class Natan Dalal was born and raised in Tel Aviv, the eldest son of Rachel and Zion, and brother to three brothers and two sisters. He was married to Sarah and the father of three sons.

Natan studied at the Herzliya and Tachkemoni elementary schools. He completed his studies at the Torah U’Melacha school, specializing in metalwork and electricity. He was a devoted son and a loving brother.

As a teenager, Natan was active in the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed youth movement, through which he formed connections and met many friends.

In November 1964, Natan enlisted in the IDF's Combat Engineering Corps. At the end of basic training, he completed many courses, including the squad leaders course, the bomb disposal course, and the Combat Engineering Corps NCO course. He was a respected soldier, beloved by both his friends and commanders, and fulfilled all his duties in the most exemplary manner.

Natan completed his service in May 1967. Immediately afterward, the Six-Day War broke out, and he volunteered for active reserve duty. Later, he was released from reserve service and began working at the Elmo factory, where he was involved in motor winding. After a year and a half, Natan decided to retrain professionally and became an insurance agent.

He married Sarah, and the two established their home in Holon, where they had three sons. Family was very important to him, and he was an exemplary husband and father. For his children, he chose to provide a traditional religious education, believing this would help them better understand their connection to the land and the state. Natan was also a man of giving. He cared for his widowed mother, his brothers, and his sisters, and was deeply involved in acts of charity, often in secret.

In his free time, Natan played tennis and was active in the Civil Guard in Holon. He supported the sports department of the Holon country club, adopted the club’s soccer team, and devoted himself to the needs of the Zion synagogue in Tel Aviv, where his late father had served as gabbai.

Throughout the years, Natan continued to serve in the reserves with devotion and persistence, motivated by his love of the people and the land. He served in the construction unit of the Air Force and also participated in the Yom Kippur War. His commander described him: “Natan was an exemplary soldier, endlessly dedicated, and always carried out all tasks in the best way possible.”

On May 2, 1982, Natan fell during his military service. He was 35 years old. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Holon. Natan left behind a wife and three sons, a mother, three brothers, and two sisters. A month before he fell, his eldest son had celebrated his bar mitzvah.

May his memory be blessed.