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IDF Identity book - translation/explanation help please


AB64
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I normally collect British and Commonwealth Service Book, but like to get some other examples occasionally - US, Red Army, Soldbuch, Wehrpass etc I saw this a couple of weeks ago and thought it would be an interesting addition and something a little different, but as someone with no knowledge of Hebrew (and various translate apps aren't helping) and very limited knowledge of the IDF at the moment its just a nice looking item - can anyone help with picking out the bones of this gents service? the seller pointed out some entries that seem to tie in with service during the Sinai War, 6 Day War & Yom Kippur War - although he wasn't able to tell me anything about his unit or whether his involvement was at/near the front or somewhere less glamourous

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

AB64 ,This is what my friend said:

 

The brown cover was the cover to your "book of service" for the time you were in the IDF. 

 

This was the personal army record of Zerem Harees. 

 

Looking through the documents, this person is recreating his entire history in the IDF, regular service and reserves. 

Everything is scanned documents and booklet stamps. 

 

Good medical proifle of 97.

Went into the IDF early 1950s  

 

1973 Sgt Major or RASAR (NATO OR-8)

 

Born in 1936 he retired in 1988 

 

I can vouch for the authenticity of the booklet, and recognize the type, the records etc. They resemble my own. 

Our services overlapped. 

 

He was in the “Six Day War” in 1967 and the “Yom Kippur War” in 73. There are many time periods that would coincide with other named actions.

 

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Hi, Cheers for checking, do you have any idea what unit(s) he was service with, its good to have it confirmed as covering periods of conflict.

 

Thanks again

 

Alistair

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Thanks for that, I guess they may have been security conscious in what details they included, kind of like British Service books where they usually avoid anything to identify the unit - makes me envy Soldbuck/Wehrpass collectors which give decent unit details 

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Yeah,

The IDF is some what secret squirrel about their activities.

Even my friend doesn't go into deep details about where and when, but he is quite proud of the what.

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  • 3 weeks later...

This is my first post here, I mainly collect headgear of the Arab-Israeli Wars this came up on a search I was doing and triggered my interest.

I’ve added more detail to what you have already and unfortunately contradicted some of the information you have already, which I’ll explain.

I have verified this with a Hebrew speaker as it stretched my abilities. Translations I’ve tried to remain literal but tweaked where it made sense.

 

Firstly this is not really a Service Book in the sense of the other nations you have, this is a record of Reserve Service after National Service, so it starts three years after his initial draft on Feb 12, 1958, this fits with his birth year of 1936, he would have been 19 in 1955.

 

You probably know Israelis have to do up to 6 weeks a year reserve duty after National Service, this book is important because it covers National Insurance payment during these periods and it is the evidence of that. It is handed on arrival at the base and kept there until discharged.

 

His name is Israel Rozenberg

Served in the Signals Corps

id1.png.45a48a57444a77f1317a9f326e98e828.png

 

Page 4 and 5 have his details at the end of National Service

 

 

He finished with the rank of Sergeant, this is normal as NCO rank is time based in the IDF and promoted the First Sergeant in 1964

 

Fitness profile of 97 is the highest group

Perfectly healthy - fit to serve in various field combat units and in the combat battalions, as well as in the elite units. In cases of very mild medical problems, a note is added to the profile. This does not lower the profile, but disqualifies several roles depending on the type and severity of the problem

 

He was awarded the Sinai ribbon, which means he served in that campaign in 1956, this was awarded for all IDF personnel on continuous active duty during at least 72 hours between 26 October 1956 and 6 November 1956

 

No detail on actual role, only a number that applies to it

 

id4.png.ce2184e9bec8ecd41f2a760de30ae148.png

 

Pages 6 thru 10 plus the added sheet record period of reserve. The most interesting one is 10 and the added sheet.

 

This shows a not for ‘Special Service’ for May 24 to June 19, 1967. This I believe translates to a mobilization order which covers the Six Day War period.

 

Another stamp that he had reserve duty form 6 October 1973, the day the Yom Kippur War broke out up to 8 April 1974

 

id5.png.b356d46cca0dbbf2ee62814745864c34.png

 

The last page show his last two promotions.

 

id6.png.a25bf087ed073da56310a71b7c79f849.png

 

There are two additional papers

 

id2.png.467aebf6849fbbdecdb9618d061d308b.png

 

The first is a voucher for free travel on public transport during time of emergency

 

The second is a not that gives his activation code word and instructions on hearing the code on the radio. Mobilisation of reserves was over the radio using code words in those days and certain words were used for certain units.

Stamped in purple is ZEREM HAREEM (Flow Hills), this is the code word (S and M at the end of a word in Hebrew is a very similar letter), this also is stamped at the back of the book.

 

id3.png.3dfbbb96c0411b24840e9d1693ac1f99.png

 

I don’t think he retired in 1988, the date in the back of the book is 1958 when it was issued, his last service stamp is Oct 1975.

 

If you have any questions I'll be happy to answer.

Steve

id4.png

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Brilliant Steve, sorry for the delay I don't seem to get notifications, very helpful information and the notes on the images make it all a lot clearer. Is there any indication of where he was born? if he was born in the area or arrived from Europe maybe?

 

Thanks again

 

Alistair

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Hi Alistair, unfortunately there is no indication of where he was born, although a birth year of 1936 would have meant a draft year of 1954, because he was drafted in 1955 it would lean towards him being an immigrant. 

 

Steve

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