Sidney Leisure, the son of Yitzchak and Sadisha, was born in Toronto, Canada, on 5th May 1929. He grew up in a well-to-do home and completed high school. He endeared himself to his friends because of his loyalty to them. He was active in a number of sports, and took a keen interest in all that was happening in the world. He was also a devout Jew.
Because of his youth, he could not join the army in World War ll, nor fulfill his ambition to take a private-license pilots’ course in preparation for service in the Canadian Air Force.
As the Israeli War of Independence broke out, he explained to his parents that it was a Jewish war and it was the birthright of every young Jew to take part in this struggle. After much discussion and pestering, he obtained his parents’ permission to volunteer for Machal, and to go to Israel.
On arrival in Israel on the “Pan York” on 14th August 1948 with a large group of North American Machal volunteers, he volunteered for the IDF and was recruited to the English-speaking 72nd Battalion of the 7th Brigade.
He kept the spirits up of his fellow Canadians with his love and devotion to the Israeli cause, and with his uncomplaining steadfastness and loyalty despite the many hardships. In his letters home he described the scenery and everything he saw and everyone he met, with happiness and enthusiasm. He wrote of how he felt every time he saw the Israeli flag flying in the wind.
He fell on 7th September 1948 in a clash with Kaukji’s Arab Liberation Army on Mount Kabul above the village of Tamra in the Western Galilee.
He was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Nahariya
