“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.
A Young Yitzhak Rabin Gives His First Interview
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.
“Schwester Selma”: Jerusalem’s Legendary Nurse
She’s considered Jerusalem’s first Jewish head nurse, a trailblazer who introduced professional nursing practices many of which are still in use today. But what prompted a young woman from Germany to leave everything behind for the dusty, underdeveloped hills of the Land of Israel? This is the story of a woman for whom nursing was a calling—a way of life. Her legacy still shapes nursing in Israel to this day.
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.
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.
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.
Memories From 1947: A Trip to the Galilee
The National Library of Israel recently launched a project collecting diaries belonging to members of Israel’s founding generation. One of those diaries, written by 21-year-old Avraham Dubno, inspired the story found below. Avraham was killed in battle shortly after recording the diary. It was found decades later by his niece, Rina Neiman
Children of Heroes: The Story of Ma’ale HaHamisha
Is it a good idea to raise children in a place constantly under enemy fire? How much joy can there be for a ten-month-old baby whose father has died for a cause? This is a story of childhood spent in Kibbutz Ma’ale HaHamisha – a story of love, laughter and dedication, alongside constant threat and loss
