Following the German occupation in 1939, he was transferred to the Ghetto, and in July 1944 he was taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau.  In January 1945 he was led on the Death March from Auschwitz.  After three days on foot and two days in an open train he reached Mauthausen in Austria, from where he was sent to a work camp.  In 1945 he was liberated by the American Army.  Of the 17,000 people who were forced on the March, only 2,000 remained at the time of liberation. 

In 1946, he came to Israel by ship on the ‘Josiah Wedgewood’ which was captured by the British and he was brought to the detention camp in Atlit.  He enlisted in the Palmach in March 1948 and served in the Yiftach Brigade.  He was one of the founders of Kibbutz Malchia in the Galilee.  He served with the reserve troops until 1986 and participated in all Israel’s wars.  Yechiel lives in Nahalal and has three children and ten grandchildren.  His grandson, Staff Sergeant Tomer is accompanying him on this journey.