Cpl. Yehoshua-Menahem (Shuki) Hefetz, z”l

Corporal Yehoshua-Menahem (Shuki) Hefetz, son of Leah and Yechiel, brother to Amalia and Alma (Shira), and half-brother to Ariel Ben-Zion, Raaya, Yuval, Efrat, and Alexandra-Nechama, his father’s children from his first marriage. He was born and raised in Jerusalem.

Shuki attended the Horev Elementary School. In middle school, he studied at the Horev Yeshiva in Sanhedria. Later, wishing to strengthen the Jewish presence in Hebron, he transferred to the Otniel Yeshiva in the South Hebron Hills. After three years, he left the yeshiva and completed his senior year at Gush Etzion High School through the HILA program.

He was an outstanding athlete with exceptional physical fitness, regularly engaging in sports. He played basketball for the Elitzur team in Jerusalem and was active in both the Ezra and Bnei Akiva youth movements. A socially engaged young man, he had already received a certificate of excellence for his social involvement in the third grade and was always the first to volunteer and lend a hand. As a teenager, Shuki worked at the Hazon Yeshaya and Karmey Ha’ir soup kitchens in Jerusalem and assisted students with Down syndrome. On one occasion, he rode a donkey from Gush Etzion to Jerusalem to raise money for charity. Creative and resourceful, with a constant smile, a sense of humor, and gifted hands, he could dismantle watches and assemble radios. He loved music and hiking and was always surrounded by friends.

Family was Shuki’s entire world. He grew up in a warm and loving home and loved his family deeply.

In March 2011, Shuki enlisted in the IDF, initially serving in the Air Force in a combat support role. At the time, his father was gravely ill and had requested that Shuki serve close to home. In January 2012, after his father passed away, Shuki insisted on fulfilling his dream of joining a combat unit. He was even willing to extend his military service to do so. He transferred to the Combat Engineering Corps and aspired to join the elite Yahalom unit. During that time, he would often say, “When I get to Yahalom, the people will be able to sleep peacefully.”

The Chief Engineering Officer said, “Yehoshua was not content even after he had succeeded in joining the Combat Engineering Corps. He wanted to be among the very best at the forefront. He did everything in his power to make it to Yahalom.”

On April 18, 2012, Shuki fell at the end of the Yahalom selection course. He was 20 years old. He was laid to rest at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery. After his death, the Chief Engineering Officer shared that Shuki had finished the selection process for Yahalom in the top twenty percent, demonstrating excellent combat fitness and a high level of teamwork. Shuki’s family donated his corneas. When the soldiers who had undergone the selection process with Shuki completed their training, Shuki’s mother received the Yahalom warrior’s pin in his name.

May his memory be blessed.