One of the heart-wrenching facts about Hannah Senesh, the paratrooper-poetess who died so tragically at the age of 23, is that she wasn’t able carry out her mission. She received military training and was sent to Yugoslavia in an effort to save Jews from the Nazis – but she was ultimately caught at the border, imprisoned, and executed. Was her death in vain? The story of one little boy and his mother reveals something of Hannah’s unique personality, as well as those she did manage to save, despite everything.
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.
Red Boots, Red Berets: The Story of the Paratroopers Brigade
The last words written by paratrooper Eitan Naveh, who leapt out of the trenches to protect his friends at Ammunition Hill, were: “We won’t embarrass the firm.” His pride in serving with the paratroopers became part of his identity. This is the story of the brigade known for its red boots, crimson berets, and the fact that it produced no less than ten IDF Chiefs of Staff.
Hannah Senesh Bids Farewell to Her Brother Giora
Hannah Senesh did not believe she would meet her brother Giora before leaving on a mission from which she thought she might not return. When her brother arrived in Mandatory Palestine a few days before she was to depart for Egypt, Senesh gave him a letter. He could not have understood its full meaning at the time…
Hannah Senesh’s Hanukkah
In December of 1933, a 12-year-old Hannah Senesh composed a Hanukkah poem that concluded with the words: “These candles encourage us at every turn, fear not Israel, the time is yet to come.”
Hannah Senesh: The Girl Who Never Stopped Writing
A glimpse of Hannah Senesh’s childhood writings
Hannah Senesh’s Last Note
“Dear mother, I don’t know what to tell you. I will only say this: A thousand thanks and more, and forgive me, if you can…”
The Emotional Reunion With Hannah Senesh’s Notebook
In the 1950s, Katherine Senesh donated four pages containing poems handwritten by her paratrooper daughter to the National Library. Now, with the deposit of the full Hannah Senesh Collection, these pages will be reunited with the notebook from which they originally came
Hannah Senesh’s Final Letter
The letter addressed to her brother George was written in English to ensure it would pass through the British military censors.
