He was “level-headed, moderate, coolly analytical, with the lowest bass voice ever heard over the IDF’s combat radio,” and his “number of operations was as great as the number of freckles that once covered his face.” Lt. Col. Yitzhak Rabin gave his first interview to an army newspaper at the age of 27.
The Song of the Sticker: Hope and Loss in Israeli Commemorative Culture
They cover the walls of train stations, the sides of bus stops, and the poles of street lamps. Smiling faces, a familiar phrase, and sometimes a QR code leading to a memorial website. The National Library is creating an archive that will collect and preserve the stickers commemorating the victims of the Nova festival and those who have fallen in the war. Why is it important to preserve these memorial stickers, how should it be done, and what meaning does this kind of documentation hold for bereaved families?
The Prime Minister’s Stuttering Speech
In the lead-up to one of Israel’s greatest-ever military victories, Prime Minister Levi Eshkol took to the airwaves to address the nation. It didn’t go well, and the national crisis became significantly worse as a result. Despite his failure in a critical moment, today Eshkol is often viewed as one of Israel’s greatest leaders.
The Treasure Left Behind by the IDF Reservist Killed in Gaza
Eyal Meir Berkowitz’s talent for explaining complex Mishnayot was recognized by rabbis and experts in the field. On December 7, 2023, Eyal fell in an IDF operation extracting the bodies of hostages abducted to Gaza. His family decided to cherish his memory by handing his work over to the National Library of Israel.
Freedom Under Siege: The Last Seder in Kfar Etzion
How can one celebrate the festival of freedom, with the clear knowledge that your life or liberty will be taken from you in just a few days? The Seder night of 1948 was one of the last nights of freedom for those in besieged Gush Etzion, but this fact did not prevent the isolated group of men from creating the most celebratory atmosphere possible under the circumstances.
The First Night of Captivity: Memories From the Fall of the Jewish Quarter
A text found at the National Library unearthed the story of Aharon Liron, a young soldier captured by the Arab Legion during the battle for Jerusalem’s Old City in 1948. Liron was able to document his experiences as he witnessed the fall of the Jewish Quarter.
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.
The Ayalon Institute: The Secret Facility Hidden Under a Kibbutz Laundry
Deep underground, beneath a kibbutz laundry and bakery, an enormous, clandestine factory was operated by the Haganah: an ammunition factory that worked for three years, almost without stop. This is the story of the Ayalon Institute, whose work ensured the existence of the State of Israel.
Hidden Weapons, Explosives and Tunnels: The IDF’s Combat Engineers
No unit in the IDF can get very far without combat engineering personnel. However, these soldiers don’t always get the credit they deserve for their critical contribution to Israel’s defense. This is the story of the Combat Engineering Corps – the brave and careful soldiers charged with dismantling all types of obstacles that stand in the army’s way.
“You can recover from this”: When Past Captives Told Their Stories
When they finally returned home, the Israeli POWs of the War of Attrition decided to do something unusual for their time – they shared their experiences. The decision to put things down in writing did not dull the pain, but it did allow them to connect to their own inner strength, to a sense of enduring hope and to the shared experience in captivity that helped them survive. For their relatives, it offered a glimpse of what could rarely be discussed face to face
