Carmi Rabinowitz was born August 11, 1924 in New York City. He was reared in an atmosphere which was Zionist, religious and highly aware of the Hebrew language. He attended Yeshivat Etz Chaim, and only Hebrew was spoken at home. When Carmi was still quite young (in 1932) the family moved to Tel Aviv. There he studied in the Bilu Elementary School and the Montefiore High School, learning the trade of radio technician. At the age of 15 he joined the Haganah and later the Palmach. In WWII he volunteered to serve in the American Army where he fought in the western desert in Africa and, together with Palestinian friends in the British Army, was able to do a bit for the Haganah. At the end of the war it was suggested to him that he complete his technical training in the United States at government expense. He felt that the local situation was far too urgent to permit any such luxury, and immediately reenrolled in the Haganah where he participated in many actions, ranging from small guerrilla battles against Arabs to bringing illegal immigrants into shore. With the increased activity that followed the voting of the Partition Plan, Carmi was assigned to aggressive patrol on the outskirts of the city as a company commander. A basic Haganah tactic was blowing up those houses from which hostile activity originated. Dec. 25, 1947 it was decided to eliminate such a three story building in the Arab village of Tel-a-rish, from which snipers controlled the road to Holon. Carmi served as a sniper and was killed in the action. He is buried in Nahalat Yitzhak. Bet Carmi is named for him.
