Nati Gabbay

Nati Gabbay, born in 1981 married, father to sweet Lia and Mika, and to Sansa and Lucy the cats

Baby No. 000001: Meet the State of Israel’s First Official Newborn

Yet another scoop from the National Library: introducing Drora Cohen, the very first person to receive an Israeli birth certificate! “Grandma Drora is number one—and she has the documents to prove it.”

Revealed: Who Was “The State of Israel’s First Baby”?

Among the National Library’s photography collections, one particularly adorable discovery caught our eye: a series of images titled “The State of Israel’s First Baby.” There were no other identifying details. Solving the mystery took a bit of detective work, some help from kind strangers, and a stroke of luck. But eventually, we found the birthday girl—and she even gave us a special interview.

The Haredi Soldiers Who Served in Israel’s War of Independence

For seven months, Haredi yeshiva students who served in “Gdud Tuvia” (Tuvia’s Battalion) proved that Torah study and IDF service could go hand in hand. Rare documents describe the profound reflections of those who viewed their military service as a sacred mission.

When Israel Conquered Gaza for the First Time

During the conflict known as the Sinai Campaign, the State of Israel conquered the Gaza Strip. Military documents and rare color photographs reveal what this brief period of Israeli control of Gaza looked like – back in 1956

The Fall and Revival of Netiv Ha’Asarah

When the bulldozers came to knock down the houses of Netiv Ha’Asarah in the Sinai Peninsula, the residents experienced real trauma. They could have moved to the center of the country, far away from any danger, but their pioneering spirit led them to resettle just a few feet from the Gaza Strip.