The morning of IDF employee Yosef Oknin opens regularly with a short walk in the Lipkin camp, where he serves – from the IDF to the office. On his way he notices almost every air conditioner, pruned wood and asphalt axis at the base. “I get up in the morning first thing to help a soldier on the edge” is how he defines his role.
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Oknin, head of the fire department’s construction division (Division 98), was born in Morocco in 1957. When he was a toddler, three of his brothers immigrated to Israel as part of the Mossad’s morale operation – during which about 530 Jewish children were brought to Morocco and separated from the rest of the family. The special operation was an attempt to bring the last of the immigrants to Israel before the gates for the exodus of Jews were closed. The young people were forced to say goodbye to the families and lives they knew and go to the unknown. After two years, when Yossi was 3, he immigrated to Israel with his mother and the rest of the brothers, and split up to live in kibbutzim.
“9 brothers came here, in a very difficult financial situation,” Oknin recalled. “Days before, to try to unite everyone, but there will always be people who will miss.”
“Precisely for this reason, out of the need to fix and create a place where I can give, I try so hard to contribute from my place,” he says. Throughout his life, Joseph was characterized by his giving. In 1976 he enlisted in the 402nd Regiment of the Artillery Corps and served in Sinai. “After 3 years in the battalion, I moved to the paratroopers’ brigade and with the start of my permanent service, I served as a camp commander,” he says. This one I served until my release, 5 years later, in the rank of RNG.
As part of his job, Joseph minimizes his stay in the office, in fact, he spends most of the day touring the base to make sure everything is in order: “I like to see the fighters and their needs up close. On the way back to the office from the tour, I already add tasks “Dreams’ and begins to do everything to carry them out as soon as possible. It is my responsibility to make sure that there is nothing missing for the fighters – whether it is the living room here in the camp or during exercises in Cyprus and Germany.”
Indeed, Yosef did not rest for a moment: “I recently heard that Cherry fighters had returned from operations in Nablus and their air conditioner did not work. I took care of it immediately and the next day the matter was taken care of. “More than 5 years to replace them, which happened in a short time. After that, we acted similarly with all the toilets and showers in all the units of the division and we are really at the peak of the project these days.” “For the soldiers of the division I will go all the way,” Oknin declares excitedly.
“We really do not stop there,” he emphasizes, “We take care of everything that is considered a marginal and small detail, but in practice is the core activity at the base and the most important parts of the fighters’ well-being – from pruning trees so they do not crash on soldiers, Renovation of the hinges at the base to allow the fighters to jump to events in minimal time. “
This week (Sunday), after 46 years in various positions and frameworks in the IDF, and 4 years in his current position, Oknin received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the IDF for his work and contribution to the logistics and combat units of the Fire Brigade.
“It’s very exciting,” he admits, “I’m grateful to the military, the system and everyone who supported and thought I deserved it. I get to close the circle after many years of trying to give of myself as much as possible and it fills me with motivation and desire to keep doing so.”
Yosef lives in Or Yehuda with his wife Lily, a native of the city, they chose to settle together in the city in 1985, after their marriage. They have 4 children: three sons and a daughter. One of his sons is an active duty in the reserve, and the other a permanent man. When asked about the uniqueness of Or Yehuda, Yosef replied: “There are warm and loving people in the city who always support and help each other, perfect unity and love for the city. Mayor Liat invests her days and nights in improving the city in all areas, especially education and development and everything possible.”
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