For many years, the phrase “transportation to Tel Mond” was synonymous with two individuals: Shmuel Yavzurov and the late Yitzhak Yerushalmi.
Most members of the Tel Mond Bloc earned their livelihoods through external labor in the citrus orchards surrounding Tel Mond. Consequently, a primary concern was the daily transport of workers to and from their places of employment.
At the time, the HaSharon Transportation Cooperative was the main operator transporting laborers to Tel Mond. However, the group was often overcommitted, serving multiple destinations, and could not consistently meet the transportation needs of residents in Ein Vered and the wider bloc. In response, Shmuel (“Shmuelik”) Yavzurov approached the secretary of the organization, Dov Lishavsky, and offered to take responsibility for establishing regular transport, including a connection to Kfar Saba. His proposal was accepted, and together with his colleague Elazar River, he purchased a used truck.
The HaSharon group resisted relinquishing its transport rights in the bloc, and tensions escalated. However, Shmuelik was steadfast in defending the interests of the local population. The late Eliezer Kaplan ultimately intervened, and as a result, Shmuelik and Elazar River were officially admitted into the HaSharon Cooperative, with the designated responsibility of operating the Tel Mond–Kfar Saba route.
Entry into the cooperative required a significant financial investment: Shmuelik had to purchase a membership share valued at 500 Palestine pounds. He went on to become a model figure among the early members of Egged, admired for his ingenuity, initiative, and dedication. Despite his achievements, Shmuelik remained grounded, never forgetting the needs of the everyday worker.
Alongside Shmuelik, Yitzhak Yerushalmi also served as a Tel Mond driver. At the time, there were only three bus trips daily to Tel Aviv, and each journey driven by Yerushalmi was a notable experience. He welcomed every passenger warmly and spoke with them in their native language, as Yerushalmi was fluent in many tongues and knew how to relate to each person according to their background and education.
If an elderly passenger, a frail person, or someone unwell boarded the bus, he would personally assist them, even carrying their bags. If he sensed a passenger was troubled, he would gently engage in conversation, offering comfort and practical advice. Yerushalmi was known as a thoughtful, charming individual with a broad intellectual horizon, always ready to connect with people of all kinds.
Source: Esterin, Shmuel. Shmuel Yavzurov, of Blessed Memory. Tel Aviv: Egged Printing Press, 1970.