Josef Sarig

Josef Sarig was born in 1944 in Beit HaShita

Josef Sarig was born on March 24, 1944, in Kibbutz Beit HaShita. His father, Nahum Sarig, was the first commander of the Negev Brigade, and his mother, Tikva, wrote children's books. His brother Ran Sarig later served as deputy commander of Division 90.

After school he joined the IDF and completed an armor officers course. Following his release in 1966, he studied music at the Oranim seminary. He then returned to his kibbutz, farming and teaching music in the Beit She'an Valley.

Sarig wrote poems, lyrics and essays and composed many songs. As an organ player he worked with the Gevatron group, and his collected poems appeared as "Twenty Poems". In 1972 he wrote "Or VeYerushalayim" for the Gevatron, marking 5 years since the reunification of Jerusalem, and he also set Natan Alterman's "HaAsufi" to music.

In the Yom Kippur War he commanded a tank company in the Golan Heights and was killed on October 10, 1973. He was married to Nurit Moran-Sarig and left 2 sons. A memorial named after his song stands on the Golan Trail, and in 2014 a Memorial Day stamp was inspired by his poem "Shiva".