Yossef Eldar

Yossef Eldar was born in 1944 in Tel Aviv

Yossef Eldar was born in 1944 and grew up in Tel Aviv. He studied at the Geula Gymnasium.

He joined the Nahal in May 1962 and later moved to armored infantry. As a platoon commander he took part in the Samu operation, and he was wounded by a shell on July 14, 1967. In June 1973 he took command of Battalion 75 of the 7th Brigade.

In the Yom Kippur War his force fought on the northern Golan Heights and destroyed about 40 Syrian tanks. He was wounded, left the hospital to return to his battalion, and was wounded again on October 16. Historian Uri Milstein claimed he was responsible for a Syrian breakthrough into the Valley of Tears, and he received the Medal of Distinguished Service for his fighting.

He later commanded the 5th Brigade and the 14th Brigade and was deputy commander of Division 194. From 1982 to 1985 he was Chief Education Officer, a period in which the education system of the IDF was reduced.

After his discharge he earned a bachelor's degree in education and led the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers. He also managed youth, culture and sports departments in local authorities. From 2005 to 2011 he oversaw pre-military academies at the Ministry of Defense and then led their council.