“The fate of Israel depends on two things,” David Ben-Gurion said, “its strength and its righteousness.” At times, it also depended on making a courageous decision at precisely the right moment. Using the National Library’s Historical Jewish Press Collection, we traced four bold and fateful decisions Ben-Gurion made on behalf of all Israelis.
Orr Blumovitz, the Soldier Who Never Stopped Reading – Even in the Tank
When Orr Blumovitz was born, his parents could not have known that naming him after a beloved book character would set him on a path filled with endless hours of reading and hundreds of books—a life rich in knowledge, curiosity, and giving. Books shaped Orr’s world until his tragic death in an attack targeting an IDF armored vehicle in June 2024. Today, they form a lasting part of his legacy.
Dan Hadani, a 100-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor, Still Remembers
Dunek Zloczewski lost everything he had in the Holocaust: his daily routine, his entire family, and his faith in humanity. Along the way, he survived Auschwitz, Mengele’s selections, harsh labor, and a death march. He built a new life for himself in Israel as Dan Hadani – a photographer and journalist with an important role in documenting the country’s history. For decades, he repressed his memories of the Holocaust and only began telling the story of that part of his life at the age of 92.
The Guardian Angel of Jerusalem’s Children: Dr. Helena Kagan
How many people can credit themselves with establishing and developing an entire medical field? In the early 20th century, pediatric medicine practically didn’t exist in the Land of Israel. Enter Helena Kagan. With her rare combination of professionalism, hard work, and dedication, she built up the field of children’s medicine in the Holy Land from scratch. This is the story Israel’s first pediatrician.
More Than a Thousand Words: Hannah Senesh’s Photographs
Hannah Senesh had a poetic view of the world, as reflected in her own words – her poems, diaries and other writings. But the young paratrooper also left behind another, less well-known viewpoint, as documented through the lens of her camera.
90 Years Late: A Decorated Jewish General’s Book Arrives at the Library!
After a “slight” delay, the National Library of Israel has finally received a book of war correspondence written by the most famous and senior Jewish officer to serve in WWI. Who was Sir John Monash? And what happened to this particular book since it was dedicated to the NLI back in 1935? We set out to find answers…
The Balilius Affair: What Was Jerusalem’s Main Synagogue?
In the late 1920s, a fierce debate erupted between the Ashkenazim and Sephardim in Jerusalem over which synagogue should be considered the main Jewish house of worship in the city. This controversy escalated to an international legal battle that lasted many years.
Libyan Jewry: A Personal Perspective – How Rabbi Mordechai Ha-Cohen of Tripoli Documented His Community
In recent months, the archive of Rabbi Mordechai Ben Yehuda Ha-Cohen of Tripoli has been cataloged and made accessible at the National Library of Israel. He was a scholar, halakhic jurist, and significant chronicler of Libyan Jewry in the early 20th century. Professor Harvey E. Goldberg, a researcher of Libyan Jewry who edited Mordechai Ha-Cohen’s book, “Higgid Mordechai”, shares the story of an exceptional rabbi and Renaissance man.
A Sukkah Made of Fruit? On Samaritan Sukkahs
Why do Samaritans build a sukkah out of fruit, where can they be found, and what happens to all the fruit when the holiday is over? A look at the Sukkot customs of Israel’s Samaritan community.
The Kaminitz Hotel: Where Theodor Herzl Couldn’t Get a Room
If you were visiting Jerusalem in the late 19th century, and were a person of means and stature, you might have enjoyed the accommodations of the city’s first modern Jewish hotel. Unless of course, your name was Theodor Herzl… We dug through the hotel’s guest book and went on a journey back in time.
