History and heritage
The Monument commemorating Marvica
a lone IDF soldier, overlooking mountain view
The monument commemorating Yaakov (Zeljko) Marvica
The waving Israeli flag signals you to stop in the middle of the Wine Route to observe the view and reflect on the moving story of IDF soldier Yaakov Marvica.
This street is the same old road (Ma’ale Harishonim) leading from Zamarin Hill to the Moshava. It overlooks Zamarin Hill, the agricultural landscape of Tut Valley, the Meir Shefia Moshava, and Fureidis Village. It is a one-way street and we, therefore, recommend to arrive from Hanadiv Street, following the wagons that carried the vintage downhill to the winery.
Marvica was born on 1978 in Yugoslavia (now Serbia,) earned a BA in physical education and served in an elite unit of the Yugoslavian army. After the war there, he decided to fulfill his dream and make Aliah (immigration to Israel.) He joined the IDF as a lone soldier and served as a combat medic in an elite Givati unit. He told his friends: “I do’nt speak Hebrew all that well so I don’t want to talk Zionism but to practice Zionism.”
His life was cut short at the age of 26 in the “APC Disaster” at the Zeitoun neighborhood of southern Gaza Strip. At the request of his mother, he was laid to rest in his hometown Novisad’s Jewish cemetery, in a military ceremony. His is the only IDF grave that is located outside of Israel.
The monument in his memory was designed by his girlfriend Maayan Hod, a native of Zichron Yaakov (Zeljko) Mrvica, to symbolize Zelko’s strong ties to the new homeland he wanted to live in.
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