{"id":194649,"date":"2026-08-23T15:23:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T12:23:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/?p=194649"},"modified":"2026-08-23T15:26:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T12:26:44","slug":"first_elephant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/en\/first_elephant\/","title":{"rendered":"The Trials and Tribulations of the First Hebrew Elephant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cHow is it possible that our zoo doesn\u2019t have an elephant?\u201d This was the question Tel Aviv children asked Baruch Goffer, director of the historic zoo located in Tel Aviv\u2019s Hadassah Garden, time and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The children of the city did not know what Baruch knew: bringing an elephant to Palestine was no easy task. Not easy at all. After several unsuccessful attempts to bring an elephant from India, thwarted by various bureaucratic obstacles, our Baruch Gopher decided to turn his attention to Africa. Perhaps salvation would come from there?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Palestine had a formidable competitor. Its name was Egypt. And Egypt wanted elephants, too. Of the four elephants found in Africa that were deemed suitable for the region, the Egyptians received three. But the elephant destined for Palestine was, shall we say, \u201cnot an easy one\u201d (in more ways than one). He required some adjustments because he was not sufficiently \u201ccivilized.\u201d And that took more time \u2013 and more money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rumors of the elephant\u2019s impending arrival began spreading throughout the Jewish community. \u201cHe\u2019ll be here any moment!\u201d the newspapers announced. A writer who went by the initials \u201cY.K.\u201d even published a special poem in Haaretz <\/a>in the elephant\u2019s honor, proclaiming that children will see and rejoice to soon get a giant new immigrant\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n

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Go here for the full poem<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

But alas! Just moments before the elephant was due to set out on his journey, fate intervened, and the enormous mammal came down with an eye infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The children of Israel were beginning to lose patience. They were already wondering among themselves: Would the elephant really make it to Palestine after all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our elephant was born in the \u201cBelgian Congo\u201d and thus given the name Bungo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was, to put it nicely, extremely pampered. A virtual mountain of bananas was needed to persuade him to do the honors of climbing into the enormous crate prepared for him aboard the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then came the news: the ship had set sail to Palestine. It would reach the port of Haifa in two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The news spread like wildfire, and the children of Israel could hardly believe their ears. It was really happening!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the person chosen to accompany Bungo on his journey was none other than Leah Goldberg, the resident poet of Davar LaYeladim<\/em> (\u201cDavar for Children\u201d). She published the first installment of The Great Journey<\/em>, a series that would follow the Zionist elephant\u2019s arrival and his integration into the emerging state.<\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/a>The first poem in Leah Goldberg\u2019s series The Great Journey,<\/em> published in Davar LaYeladim<\/em>. October 24, 1946<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

And on Wednesday, October 30, 1946, Bungo\u2019s great journey came to an end at the port of Haifa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen the ship approached, we went aboard,\u201d Baruch Goffer recalled excitedly<\/a>. \u201cAnd there was our elephant, inside a huge crate, seemingly understanding that we were his friends. He raised his long trunk toward us as if in greeting. Our joy knew no bounds. There before us stood an elephant \u2013 a real, live elephant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Bungo and his companions. Davar LaYeladim,<\/em> November 21, 19466<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

And just as the elephant entered the zoo, Goldberg published another poem in The Great Journey<\/em>, so that Bungo would feel loved and welcome in his new home.<\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/a>The second poem in Leah Goldberg\u2019s series The Great Journey<\/em>, published in Davar LaYeladim<\/em>. October 31, 1946<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There was not a newspaper in town that failed to report on the new arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Palestine Post<\/em>, from November 1, 1946<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The excitement was immense, and the rush to the zoo was indescribable. Everyone wanted to see the elephant wonder with their own eyes. At last, he was home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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