Eliezer Halfin

Who was Eliezer Halfin?

Eliezer Halfin was a wrestler for the Israeli Olympic team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. Along with 10 other athletes and coaches he was taken hostage by Palestinian Black September terrorists. Eventually they were brought to a German airport and during an attempted rescue mission staged by the German police all the hostages died.

Eliezer was a mechanic by profession and was born in Riga, USSR. He came to Israel in 1969 and officially became a citizen 7 months prior to his death. He left his parents and a sister.

Eliezer was a lightweight wrestler and was active for 11 years. In Israel he was a member of Hapoel Tel Aviv club. He won 12th place in the world championships. During 1971 he placed second place in the international competition in Bucharest, Romania. In 1972 in Greece he placed 3rd. Participating in the 20th Olympic Games was the highlight of his career and his dream.

Eliezer is buried in Kiryat Shaul cemetery in Tel Aviv.