SUMMER 2003 AMERICAN VETERANS OF VOLUNTEERS IN ISRAEL’S WAR OF INDEPENDENCE UNITED STATES & CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS 136 East 39th St., New York, N.Y. 10016

Newsletter Index Now Arab “Machal” Available We have been aware of Arab A precursor organization appeared in military volunteers recruited to New York in 1951. No written record of its fight alongside the several regu- activities between then and the early six- lar Arab armies in Palestine in ties remains. Around 1963, the group seems to have been reconstituted but, 1948. They have not enjoyed the again, left no record before the appear- same historical, journalistic and ance of the AVI Newsletter in 1966. Since fictional treatment accorded the then the vicissitudes of the organization, volunteers who fought alongside now designated as the American Veter- the Israeli forces. In response to re- ans of Israel, may be followed in the AVI ports of volunteers from Arab Newsletters. It was possible to collect 145 Ambassador Alon Pinkas addresses countries who came to the sup- Newsletters between that date and the awardees on the Intrepid Winter of 2003. This may not exhaust the port of Saddam Hussein, an ar- number published. Newsletter editors ticle appeared in the Qatar publi- have included Sidney Rabinovich, Samuel Israel Consulate in New cation Al-Jazeera on April 14, Alexander and Samuel Z. Klausner, among York Pays Homage to 2003. The author, Mahmud Abd- others. Machalniks: 300 at al-‘Ati, takes the occasion to re- Now, for the first time, an Index to ar- view the role of Arab volunteers in ticles and photographs published in the Ceremony various conflicts from Palestine Newsletter is available. The index was cre- Aboard the Intrepid ated using a software program entitled 1948 to Iraq 2003. He draws upon wIndex, which allowed for three levels of Following the Salute to Israel parade material assembled by the Office classification. The work of indexing was on June 1, 2003, with thousands march- of Research of Al-Jazeera. I done by Andrew Hochberg, of the Cen- ing up New York’s Fifth Avenue, a special thought the article might be of in- ter for Advanced Judaic Studies of the tribute was paid to Machalniks on the U.S. terest to readers of the AVI News- Aircraft carrier, Intrepid. The event orga- University of Pennsylvania, under the letter so I translated it for publica- guidance of the present editor. In two- nized by the Israel Consulate General of column format the Index runs 19 pages New York honored sixty Machal and tion here. Similarities and differ- and so is too lengthy for publication in Aliyah Bet Veterans in the presence of ences between the Arab and Is- Alon Pinkas, Consul General, Major Gen- the Newsletter. It has though been made raeli volunteers will be apparent. eral Moshe Sukenik of the IDF General available in PDF format through a link on Staff, and Mr. William Bryan White, Presi- The editor the AVI website (www.sas.upenn.edu/ dent, Intrepid Museum Foundation. ~sklausne/aviweb.html). The Newsletters The event was organized by a Consu- Arab Volunteers in Iraq…what themselves are catalogued in the library late team consisting of Yahel Vilan and does the Future Hold for of the University of Florida as part of the Michal Rachlevsky and headed by Ido AVI Archives managed by Ralph Aharoni, Consul for Media and Public Re- Them? Lowenstein. Newsletter copies may be lations in New York. An unknown fate awaits Arab obtained, for the cost of photocopying by Some 300 family members and guests volunteers in Iraq. Now that addressing Carl Van Ness, Aliya Bet and attended the ceremony as each Veteran American and British forces Machal Archives, Special Collections, POB was awarded a proclamation, expressing the State of Israel’s recognition for “service dominate the country, no one 117007, University of Florida Libraries, beyond the call of duty”. Spouses and chil- knows what the future holds for Gainesville, FL 32611-7007 dren of deceased veterans received the them. On the one hand not ([email protected]). awards on their behalf. Ambassador much is known about their per- Thus, under the heading of AVI Board Pinkas said he seldom was moved as he Policy Decisions there is an entry “Letter sonal decisions. On the other continued on Page 6 continued on Page 5 continued on Page 14 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER

National Board A Future AVI President Trusteeship… Paul Kaye Past President Role for Our Eli Bergman Executive Vice President Children Jerry Rosenberg Vice President, Canada Arnold Friedman Cadets Bergman and Moosey One purpose of the American Vice President, Israel light memorial candle Veterans of Israel has been to sus- David Baum tain the historical memory of Vice President, Public Affairs West Point, Machal volunteers in Aliya Bet and Sidney Rabinovich May 4, 2003: the several Israeli military forma- 718 896 1102 Recalling the Fallen tions of 1948. The mechanisms for VP and Treasurer doing this have been our Newslet- David Gerard The annual David M. Marcus Memorial ter, the Archives in Gainesville and Chair, Executive Committee Service was held on May 4 at the United the various collective events we Simon Spiegelman States Military Academy at West Point. have sponsored. It is reasonable to Military tradition of troops at attention assume that the present member- NATIONAL REGIONAL and at parade rest merged with the deep Vice Presidents historical solemnity of a Jewish funeral. ship will not be able to sustain this East: Ira Feinberg While AVI members around New York ar- program for more than another South: Irving Meltzer range the event, the event had the spirit five years or so. Midwest: Ben H. Steuerman of an AVI national observance. Members In the light of that we are seek- West: Mitchell Flint of the Jewish War Veterans Post of ing to appoint a committee of Rockland/Orange County and guests trustees, which beginning around PROGRAM VICE PRESIDENTS from the North Eastern states joined 2008, will monitor the closure of Planning some thirty former Machal and their fami- the organization. We envision that Art Bernstein lies. They had all assembled to honor Col. this will entail maintenance of the Bailey Nieder Marcus and, through his sacrifice, to honor list of veterans, keeping in corre- Activities/Events the American volunteers who fought for Bill Gelberg the establishment of the Jewish State. spondence with them and, on this David Hanovice The ceremonies opened in the rela- basis, reporting a once or twice Len Shaffron tively new Jewish chapel. This year the yearly necrology, assuring that the Global Coordination Jewish cadet chaplain, Rabbi Huerta, al- archives are managed properly by Zippy Porath ways an imposing prophetic presence personnel of the University of Speaker’s Bureau with his military bearing, was absent at- Florida, attending to fiduciary mat- Naomi Kantey tending to our troops in the Persian Gulf. ters relating to endowments (such Newsletter Editor and Webmaster The assembled stood at attention as the as the funds for the Archives and Samuel Z. Klausner JWV contingent marched down the cen- the Machal memorials in Israel) [email protected] ter aisle presenting the colors. Retired Col. and, at the proper time, disposing Archivist Lewis Zickel welcomed the veterans and Ralph Lowenstein guests in the name of the Commandant of cash balances and closing the [email protected] of the Academy. Si Spiegelman followed organizational bank account. 352 292 3565 with words of welcome in the name of the We believe that a committee of US Museum Relations AVI. Cadets Jacob Bergman and Mathew some of our sons and daughters David Gen Moosey came forward to light a candle could monitor this process re- Membership/Welfare in memory of Col. Marcus. Rabbi Nisson sponsibly. The purpose of this an- Lois Sprinzeles (chair) Shulman, a retired Captain USN, gave an nouncement is to inquire whether Sam Alexander Invocation, words of Torah and heroism. any member might have a son or Marvin Lebow Paul Kaye, President of AVI, intoned the daughter who could join such a Nat Nadler names of nineteen American and Cana- committee. If so, please advise Adrian Phillips dian veterans who had died in the past year. Simon Spiegelman, Chairman of AVI WEBSITE • Irving Block, the AVI Executive Board by tele- www.sas.upenn.edu/~sklausne/aviweb.html • V i c t or Chaber, Air Force phone (212 685 8548) or by e-mail continued on Page 12 ([email protected]).

2 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER

‘It’s not too late to change your mind.’ My fa- MY MAHAL STORY: ther broached the subject again. We were hav- My experiences as a ing tea on our veranda. ‘Please consider the practical side and the dangers. All the volun- volunteer nurse during teers going over are war veterans or qualified the Israel War of doctors and nurses. You’re too young and in- experienced.’ Independence. 1948-49 My mother quietly added her thoughts, ‘Causing others to worry about you, you might by Ruth Stern even be a hindrance, ’ Then aloud, ‘Ruth dear why can’t you be like your sisters? Why not Early in 1948, the excitement of recruiting enjoy your popularity, complete your studies? people to go over and assist Israel, was spread- Why do you have such strange aspirations?’ ing by word of mouth across South Africa. I was It was not easy to be the parents of their at the SA Zionist Federation in Johannesburg, non-conformist daughter who had become sitting in the office of Simie Weinstein, the dedicated to the Zionist cause and drawn to former chaplain of the South African Expedi- the Land of Israel, unlike her three older tionary Forces in East Africa. He had taken time sisters.‘It’s as if she has a calling’, my dear old to speak to me although he was extremely nanny Janet said. She realized that I had busy organizing volunteers to serve in the war changed, and that my convictions were not that had broken out against the fledgling State my former euphoric idealistic dreams. Now I of Israel. was aware of a much harsher reality and ready ‘ Ruth, Simie Weinstein smiled, ‘I’m always Ruth Sterm to face it. pleased to see you, but my dear, this is about …(There follows an account of the trip to war, and not for you. Right now we are prepar- want special privileges, Simie, I know you’ll be Palestine..ed) ing to send people with military training to objective, that’s why I’ve come to you. Israel As soon as we disembarked we were sepa- Israel. It is remarkable that the call to the South needs reinforcement urgently and hopefully rated from the other passengers and driven African ex-servicemen’s League has aroused formal arrangements to send qualified army, to the Kelet, an induction center. I was. directed an uncanny flame of identification, especially airforce and medical veterans to Israel are al- to the women’s section where I suddenly felt from those who hadn’t been oriented to Zi- ready on the way. I want to join them, I must stranded without the quiet support of my onism. The general response for volunteers go back, Simie’, I repeated, ‘and thanks for lis- nineteen ‘body guards’. The impact of the from so many unexpected sources has been tening.’ strenuous journey now struck me. I recall the heartwarming’. Simie looked at his watch. Until I received word about the death of impression of being in the midst of confusion I realized that Simie, in his quiet and unas- Uri, I hadn’t told my parents about my stay at and darkness and feeling terribly tired as I was suming way, was being polite. He was aware Revivim, as I was sure they couldn’t led away by a khaki clad woman. ‘Why is ev- that I had spent the year 1946 in Palestine, fathom how I felt or imagine the tiny Negev erything so dim?’ I whispered ‘Air-raid precau- (then under the rule of the British Mandate), outpost where 25 young people were creat- tions’ she replied. She looked at me and one of the 30 participants in the first course ing a new presence in the desert. Life in South kindly took my hand. I did not meet her for Zionist youth leaders, and now I had come Africa was so different from that isolated out- again after that night, but I never forgot to see him about returning to serve as a vol- post, that it would have been impossible for that simple act of compassion as a mo- unteer in the war. Despite my recent experi- them to grasp the simple and idealistic way of ment of panic came over me at what I had ence, his fatherly attitude to me hadn’t life that had so appealed to me. But they did let myself in for. changed as he kindly tried to dissuade me. understand and comfort me when they heard He obviously had many pressing and im- my faltering account of Uri’s tragic death while portant matters to deal with and was rightly he was trying to rescue his friend trapped in Next morning I went through the proce- impatient for me to leave. ‘I won’t take up your an Arab ambush. They accepted my desire to dure of becoming a member of the Medi- time, Simie, but please understand, I have to return to Israel, but it would be sometime in cal Corps. The initial problem of dealing go back to Israel. I made a vow to someone the future, perhaps. They could let their with a young woman who didn’t belong called Uri, when I spent time on Kibbutz daughter take part in a study course under the to any contingent was solved by my in- Revivim in the Negev. He was killed recently.’ I watchful eyes of supervisors and naturally be sistence that I wished to assist as a nurse. tried to keep the emotion out of my voice, ‘Also a good Zionist in South Africa and support the I managed to make myself understood I want to join the many friends I made there, movement and the war effort from the safety and received sympathetic attention. Per- in Tel-Aviv and in ’. I plunged on, ‘I of the Diaspora. However, allowing her to go haps it was because they didn’t have could really contribute to the war effort. Don’t to a war-stricken country would be madness. I forget that I speak Hebrew, I have studied stood my ground to the consternation of my much time to waste or more likely they bio-chemistry and anatomy and physiology parents. were so short of nurses that they wel- and dietetics, and done first-aid courses, I’m At last I got word that I was to join a group comed me. Thus on the 6th, September, sure I could go as a practical nurse.’ of volunteers, the only woman among the 1948 I was accepted into the Medical Simie interrupted my outburst, ‘ OK Ruth, twenty. We were briefed on the plan to fly us Corps. I was sent to Tel-Litwinsky, Military I’ll see what I can do. Now off you go. I realize to Europe, our supposed destination, where Hospital No. 5, where there were already that your parents have a very determined and we would be met by Hagana members and many South African doctors. unusual daughter on their hands’. As I got up from there transferred to Israel. A fictitious air Tel-Litwinsky was originally an Allied to leave he added, ‘Have you spoken to Ber- line had been established by the organizers Army base which had been converted nard about your plans to return?’ He was re- as a cover to allow us to leave SA legitimately. ferring to my uncle, Bernard Gering who was Each one of us was assigned a role; mine was into a sprawling hospital. An enormous chairman of the S.A. Zionist Federation. ‘I don’t as a student going to study in England via Italy. clean-up had made the filthy barracks continued on Page 4 3 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER

My Mahal Story material which helped to fill in the huge Israel, and none with her qualifications. continued from Page 3 gaps in my nursing knowledge. Her short Her physiotherapy clinic which opened in stocky figure became a legend at the hos- 1948, laid the foundations for the estab- suitable to accommodate patients and pital. She was loved and respected. Lea lishment of the ‘Tel Center for staff, but it was far from being anything too, taught me a lot, giving me more re- the Treatment of Paraplegics in Israel’. (Tel- like my vision of a hospital. I found myself sponsibilities as I became more proficient. Litwinsky was renamed Tel-Hashomer af- in the staff quarters housed in a room with I learnt in days what nurses would nor- ter the war.) three nurses. Someone showed me where mally do in months. Soon she relied on me The never ending numbers of casual- our showers and toilets were. Others took to perform the duties of the qualified ties were brought in, confirming the daily me to the dining room. It was very infor- nurses, such as administering injections reports of so many killed, so many mal and friendly, but I soon realized how and many more professional treatments. wounded. Many of our patients were hard everyone worked and how the daily An official letter for me, from Army newcomers from the refugee camps, who toll of sick and wounded needed imme- Head-quarters!!. The meeting in the had been taken straight off the new im- diate care which was administered nurses’ room was interrupted by the de- migrant boats and into battle to join the unstintingly. With very little time to get my livery. I couldn’t believe my eyes. On a slip Israeli fighters. They usually had no mili- bearings I was sent to meet Lea, the head of cheap paper I read the type written tary training or knowledge of the coun- nurse of the internal medicine wards. I words that I had been promoted to lieu- try or Hebrew but I recall our praise for was assigned to report for duty the fol- tenant. their uncomplaining spirit and enthusi- lowing morning at the internal medicine “Nurse Ruth Saretzky No: 65911, you asm. As soon as they were able to, they ward, hut no. 35. are informed with our blessings, that as would offer to help on the wards, trying. It was amazing how the staff managed from the 3rd January, 1949” you are obliged to emulate the Israeli patients who had to improvise and cope in such austere, al- to acknowledge your rank of lieutenant grown up in the Haganah, or the most primitive conditions.. There was a by wearing the insignia. Please enter the or the Etzel. shortage of everything, from bedding and new rank into your army book”. Lea When Lea was called away we sus- food to basic medical equipment and hugged me followed by the rest of the pected the worst. Her husband was supplies. The few syringes and needles staff. I put the envelope into my pocket among the fighters captured and tortured were washed and sterilized in boiling with a nonchalant air. Lea smiled know- by the Syrians. Now their families had to water to keep up with the demand. How ingly, ‘OK, now let’s get on with the job’. face the horror of identifying the muti- people at home take the luxuries and New supplies started to arrive from the lated bodies of their loved ones that had comforts for granted, I found myself com- Diaspora Jews. What a blessing to all the been returned to Israel. To my consterna- paring, while here in the midst of war and hospitals. Naturally I was especially proud tion when I came to express my condo- suffering no-one complains. What had to of the South African contributions. We lences, Lea took me aside controlling her be done was done by all, doctors and appreciated the most basic equipment tears, and asked me if I would accompany nurses, no matter how insurmountable and wondered how we had managed her on that dreadful mission. I could not the challenge seemed, no matter how without the spare towels and sheets and refuse. For me Lea had always typified the exhausted they were, each was support- blankets and soap and cotton-wool and strength of the sabra nurses and all the ive of the other, all part of the team. bandages and pajamas, and syringes and sabra fighters, men and women. Now sud- Two South African nurses, senior sis- sterilizing sets, the list was amazing. Even denly in a reversal of roles she was lean- ters, appeared one day creating a hush of South African jam from the Cape for ing on me for support. Up to this time I awe. They were attired in starched white breakfast; what a feast!. Each consignment had tried to keep my thoughts away from uniforms including the white headdress brought more supplies and made our the death of Uri in the Negev but Lea’s loss of their rank. Most of us were rather slip- patients more comfortable, our work brought my loss back to me and gave me shod in comparison. Even the most me- easier, and our wards more up to date. the courage to say yes, naturally I would. I ticulous of nurses like Hansi and Lea from One day a tall dark haired woman sat was proud that she regarded me as her the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem down beside me in the dining room. I had friend and one to give her support in the couldn’t match these two, who were quite become used to the arrival of so many hour of deep sorrow and need. I overcame unaware of the sensation they aroused. remarkable people especially among the my fears, and I went with her. However they calmly got on with the job MAHAL volunteers. Now, Mildred The tragedies of war inevitably de- pleasantly but firmly. It was a standing Schlumschlag, a physiotherapist (M.A.). mand relief.. I accepted many invitations joke that when Phyllis Fische came onto from New York who had come to join us from local people as well as joining the a ward everyone came to attention, even was obviously ‘someone special’. Mildred MAHAL volunteers on outings to Tel-Aviv. the patients in their beds. They always wasted no time setting up a physio- It was impossible to reach Jerusalem un- kept up their high standards, despite the therapy department. The hospital direc- less one was in a military convoy. Friends inadequate facilities, and they set ex- tor, Professor Spiro, known as a ‘toughie’, I had made in 1946 somehow found me amples that many of us followed, doing was soon complying with all her de- and offered their hospitality. If I came off the most menial tasks with the same effi- mands. for a suitable place, as well as the duty and an ambulance was going to Tel- ciency as their highly skilled nursing. necessary fittings and equipment and Aviv, I would take a lift to the Epstein fam- It was to Phyllis that I went running staff. Mildred. got all her needs within ily who extended an open invitation to when I had questions about my work. She record time, and began work. There were me to have a bath and wonderful tea. gave me practical advise and reading very few physiotherapists anywhere in Their daughter Margalit had studied in continued on Page 5 4 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER

My Mahal Story continued from Page 4 Isreal Consulate in New York continued from Page 1 England and worked at the hospital as a dietician Her father had been the district officer during the British Mandate. Many MAHAL volunteers were made welcome at their home. One fine June morning I returned to the ward after a week of night duty. At the daily staff meeting a new patient, Theodore Ben-Amar, an officer in the en- gineering corps who had commanded the forces opening the way to Eilat, was singled out especially . ‘He’s very dashing, one of the ‘desert rats”, Osnat remarked grinning. Making my rounds I went from bed to bed to chat with each patient and check their charts before the doctors arrived. As Award Ceremony on the Intrepid R to L Major General Moshe Subenik, I approached the bed of the famous Ambassador Alon Pincus, Consulate Staff Member, Paul Kaye fighter, I noticed that he was reading an was on this day in the presence of the volunteers who put themselves in harm’s English book. I came nearer out of curios- way in the struggle for the Jewish State. ity. Goodness, ‘The Forgotten Ally’ by One of the AVI speakers, expressed a sentiments shared by most of the Veterans, Pierre van Paassen. saying, “In each of our lives, there have been important family and personal events ‘Shalom’, his white teeth flashed a and milestones; weddings, birth of children and then grandchildren, careers, pro- smile. He seemed to be the one in charge fessional recognitionÉ. But for all of us, our participation in the rise of the State of instead of me. I returned his greeting, and Israel remains as one the most meaningful events of our lives and we are grateful went on my way, angry at myself for be- for this privilege.” ing so flustered by the handsome green- The event focused on Veterans residing in the area covered by the Israel Consu- eyed soldier.Later, while I was writing my late of New York in the wake of a similar assembly that took place in Los Angeles. report in the staff room, the door opened The Consulates in Boston, Miami, Chicago and Toronto cover other centers where large numbers of Machalniks reside and these consulates may follow suit with similar and there he was. ‘Please leave the room events in their regions. right away’, I tried to hide my surprise and Si Spiegelman speak severely. ‘This room is out of bounds to patients. There is a sign on the door’. He didn’t seem perturbed by my authority, but sat down and offered me a cigarette. ‘Now you have disobeyed two rules’ I exclaimed, just as Dr. Bruno, our chief, walked in, adding to my consterna- tion. I’m in for a reprimand, I thought as I tried to appear calm. “Hello Teddy’, Dr Bruno addressed my disobedient patient. ‘How are all the family? Does Eli know you are here?’ He raised an eyebrow in my di- rection, ‘Does our South African nurse Ruth allow you to smoke and sit in the nurses’ sanctuary?’Three days later Teddy was discharged from the hospital with a clean bill of health. However he returned again and again, but not as a patient. Our story began then and when I married him my MAHAL story ended.

Ruth Stern (nee Saretzky) 30 A Alfasi St, Jerusalem. 92303 Israel Independence Day Parade, New York 2003 Email: [email protected] L to R: George Goldman, Ira Feinberg, Harry Bieber, David Gerard, Paul Kaye, Marcel Bertzowitz, Marcia Wohman, Sid Rabinovich

5 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER Booklet Published Tracing the History of “Machal, AVI Organizational Overseas Volunteers in Israel’s Records War of Independence” An effort is underway to assemble AVI Organizational records in our Ar- The booklet “Machal Volunteers in Israel’s War of Independence, was first printed in chives, managed by Ralph Hebrew earlier this year under the auspices of Israel’s Ministry of Education . (A news Lowenstein, in Gainesville. These ma- item on its presentation to President Katsav and a critical review of its contents was terials are crucial to maintaining a published in the AVI Newsletter, Winter 2003.). The author is Yaakov Markovitzky. The post-1948 record of Machal. They re- publication crowned many years of effort by World Machal in Israel. Zipporah Porath, side, primarily, with past officers of who initiated the project, served as editor and among those who contributed to the con- the organization. tent and promotion of the publication were Murray Greenfield, Eddy Kaplansky, Rafi Seroussi, Smoky Simon and Joe Woolf. The collection effort is being con- The text has been translated into the English language and printed in Israel. The ducted by David Hanovice. booklet packs a lot of information considering the limitations of space dictated by bud- getary constraints. AVI mounted a fund-raising campaign in late winter that provided To date, Paul Kaye and Sam the means for printing the booklet and it’s distribution in the U.S and Canada. Twenty Klausner have sent their files to AVI members gave generously to start the ball rolling. Further distribution will be made Gainesville. We look forward to re- to the press and media, major organizations, schools and libraries. ceiving additional files from Bernard The effort to distribute the booklet is in progress with half of the 2000 copies dis- Ellman, Harold Kraushar, Nat Nadler, tributed. All AVI members have received a complimentary copy of the booklet with an Sidney Rabinovich, Lou Brettler, opportunity to purchase additional copies. We expect to complete the distribution cam- Simon Spiegelman, Eli Bergman and paign by the fall. A second printing does not appear to be in the offing. Therefore, we do David Gerard as well as materials not expect any books remaining after the current stock is exhausted. All Newsletter from the survivors of David Kaplan readers who want to have copies available for upcoming holidays and special events and, Sam Alexander. can order them from American Veterans of Israel, 136 East 39 St., New York, N.Y 10016. Just write us a note, including a check in the amount corresponding to the quantity of booklets ordered ($7.00 each).

Newsletter Index Now Available continued from Page 1 to Menachem Begin, June 1979, p.2.” To Ahead of Time in May 1991 and Rudolph obtain this item, address a request to Mr. Patzert’s Running the Palestine Blockade in Van Ness for the AVI Newsletter dated March 1994. A section on Historical Essays June 1979. It is suggested that an entire and Articles includes Elihu Bergman’s “Ad- issue be requested since the article may versaries and Facilitators” in Fall 2001 and go over more than one page. In any event, S. Yurman on “Forty Hailed from Dues Reminder there is a minimum charge of $10 for the Winnepeg” in August 1994. Letters to the If you have not yet sent your first 50 pages and $.15/page thereafter. Editor include those of H. Floom in Au- dues of $36 for 2003 please do The Index provides a skeletal history gust 1991 and H. Friedman in Summer so now. Unfortunately, with the of the AVI. Among the headings are, as 2000. Discussions of Machal Reunions in loss of so many members, we mentioned above, AVI Board Policy Deci- Israel are recorded in February 1971 and sions which records the ratification of an October 1997 among many other occa- cannot continue to subsidize AVI constitution in July 1980 and a discus- sions. There have been forty-three articles members by sending the sion of a proposal to establish the AVI ar- on Machal War Deaths. A News of Mem- Newsletter. chives in September 1990. A section on bers section mentions dates of marriages This does not apply to those AVI Organizational Elections reminds us and Bar Mitzvah celebrations for grand- exempt from dues such as wid- of the election of Sam Alexander to the children. There are 218 Obituary notices, Vice Presidency in February 1970, of David some with extensive biographical and his- ows of AVI veterans. Gen to the Presidency In February 1971, torical material. Several hundred Photo- of Nat Nadler’s election as President in graphs published throughout the history David Gerard, Treasurer February 1978 and of Lola Sprinzeles as of the Newsletter of a wide range of mem- American Veterans of Israel Vice President in September 1987. AVI Or- bers and distinguished individuals may be 136 E. 39th St. ganization Events provides dates and located in the Index. speakers at Chanukah celebrations and New York, NY 10016-0914 West Point memorials. Twenty-five Book Reviews are listed including Ruth Gruber’s

6 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER LETTERS TO THE EDITOR In all likelihood, neither the Hebrew nor En- To the editor… years, the authors, on page 7, could not find it glish booklets will be given a second printing in Thank-you for sending the booklet about In their hearts to define the ‘other under- our lifetimes. If the disappointed AVI members Machalniks, 1947-50, which I had ordered from ground forces’ as the Irgun Zvai Leumi (Etzel) feel strongly enough about the subject, and have Stanley Medicks in London, where I have lived and the Lochamei Herut L’Israel (Lehi or Stern the resources to fund it, they might consider pro- since 1966. In order to let you and members Group). Afer all, they did play a significant role ducing a corrected booklet. It serves no purpose know how I happened to become a Machanik, in forcing the British out of Palestine and a at this point to write irate letters. I doubt you will I enclose here my story of female participation number of volunteers fought with the Etzel get a better or truer explanation from the pow- and assistance in the establishment of and Lehi battalions in Jerusalem during the ers-that-be than I have provided. Medinat Israel… War of Independnce. Etty Bohm Ray Kaplan Zipporah Porath, 9 Young Court 300 Winston Drive, Apt. 3020 Project coordinator for World MACHAL 175 Willesden Lane Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 NW-7Yx, London, UK To the editor… Paul Kaye, President of AVI, and Si Spiegelman, Chairman of the Executive Commit- Excerpts from Etty’s story… Machal is in the hands of a bunch of politi- tee, addressed the following letter to Smokey At age 8, I joined Maccabi-Frankfurt, cos of the left. The booklet ignores the Ameri- Simon and Zipporah Porath of World Machal: trained in athletics and participated in the first can Machalniks, or Anglo-Saxons who fought Maccabia in Berlin in 1934. Our Plugat-Gordon in the ranks of the Irgun. The Machal booklet Dear Smoky and Zippy: made aliya and founded Kibbutz Usha in the was one-sided. In my Irgun outfit we had 25 The booklet “Machal, Overseas Volunteers Zebulun hills. I worked there as a weaver in the volunteers in Jerusalem alone. in Israel’s War of Independence” has been well ATA textile factory. Due to nightly Arab attacks Harold Kraushar received. A few chaverim expressed disap- and fires set to some wooden huts we formed pointment that the Irgun Zvai Leumi (Etzel) a Haganah unit… In 1940 I married Yochanan Responses to Kaplan and Kraushar: and Lechi were not mentioned by name as who was enlisted for six years to entertain At its meeting on May 27, the AVI executive Machalniks served in their ranks. We believe troops with ENSA while I joined the intelli- Board unanimously approved the following that this oversight can be easily handled in a gence service office in Cairo. After three years resolution directed to Israel’s Ministry of Educa- second printing, should there be one. I returned to teach women self-defnse…I tion. “We have received copies of Yaakov We want to express our appreciation to served full-time with the Haganah aftr Novem- Markovitzky, Machal Overseas Volunteers in you both as well as to Eddy Kaplansky, Joe ber 30, 1947. My duties were with motor con- Israel’s War of Independence (both the original Woolf, Rafi Seroussi and Murray Greenfield for voys from the coast to Jerusaselm where I dis- Hebrew and English translation.) We are gener- the dedicated effort in getting both the He- tributed water during the siege. On May 15 I ally pleased to have this sketch of the contribu- brew and English booklets published. was directed to help prepare a prison of war tion of Jews and Christians from 43 countries to Paul Kaye, President camp in the hills. Although we had painted a the rescue of European Displaced persons and Si Spiegelman, Red Cross on the roof our building we were the War of Independence distributed. Yet, we are Chairman, Executive Committee bombarded on June 10 causing causing four disappointed by the neglect of those who served ———————— casualties including myself with a severed in such formations at Lohamei Herut Yisrael and The following comment is a response to a story leg…When the next barrage entered through the Irgun Zvai Leumi. We have long accepted about Ben Hagai Steuerman’s service published the window, I grabbed a baby to dive under these individuals in our ranks along with those in the Kenosha News and reprinted, in part, in the the iron bed-stead. At the hospital, the doctors who served in the Haganah and the Israel De- AVI Newsletter Winter 2003, page 12. ed. requested my signature for an amputation but fence Forces.” To the editor… I refused. In the next bed was an immobile The following response is from, Zipporah I contacted at least half a dozen people in Esther Callingold who died the next day. Gold Porath, an editor of the booklet. the Defense office, inquiring about Ben Hagai Myerson visited and placed a Medal of Valour Steuerman and his service on the Noga in the on each girl in the room and cried, saying “that To the editor: Israeli Navy. I had no results. I was informed on girls also had to suffer injury.”… I can personally assure your members that May 25, 2003, by Elan from a different office, ————————— there was no malice aforethought or political that he had no evidence or proof of Ben To the editor… motivation in the omission of Etzel and Lechi Steuerman’s. Elan advised me to contact I just finished reading the publication Machalniks. The oversight was absolutely unin- Yehuda Ben Tsur from Cessaria, an officer who “Machal, Overseas Volunteers in Israel’s War of tentional. During the protracted production of was in the navy in those days, but his reply was Independence.” I have a number of comments the Ministry of Education’s Hebrew edition, the the Steuerman’s name was not familiar to him. which I would like to offer: details sometimes fell between the chairs in the Elan promised to continue to search for more Firstly, I commend the authors on a publi- constant tug of word-war between the Hebrew evidence and proof. I also spoke with David cation which is so important in recognizing the editor and our team. They presented us with a Baum from the AACI who mentioned that contributions of the Machal volunteers. totally unacceptable manuscript - we were there are a lot of rumors about Steuerman… Secondly, for historical accuracy, I would stunned and frustrated when we read it - and I want to request that you ask Steuerman like to point out that the ‘Ben Hecht” men- had no option except to “deal with it” or see the the following questions in my name: tioned on pages 11 and 13, was purchased, project cancelled. We gritted our collective (re- 1. How did 3 or 4 pistols from the Yucatan get organized and operated by the American maining) teeth and persevered with damage to the Mala ship? League for a Free Palestine. This effort was to- control to assure that the Machal story be offi- 2. Why was he taken off the Yucatan that tally separate from the operations of the cially brought to the public. All final editorial de- same day? Haganah. cisions were theirs, including copyright approval 3. How is it that none of the crew who Thirdly, it is unfortunate that after all these for the English translation. letters continued on Page 8 7 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CONTINUED reached Israel on the Yucatan, later the name recruitment to Machal. I was one of the volun- platoon had been involved in the heaviest and was changed to the Noga, remember seeing teers involved in trying to correct some of the continuous actions of any group of English- him neither on that ship nor any other ship of misconceptions at a late stage and concen- speaking volunteers in the field units. the Israeli Navy? trated on changing the sections regarding the I send through you, my regards to him and field units such as armor. It must be remem- Joe Woolf, Ilaniya, Lower Galilee will appreciate your sending me his answers. bered that it was a publication of the Ministry 15255, Israel In those days, my name, until I reached Israel, of Education and we had been allowed very was Jack Teichman. little leeway, as well as being limited to the 36 To the editor: Jack Nachlieli, POB 219 pages. Of interest to aliya betnicks is a book by Ganei Omer, Omer 84965 Israel This Hebrew version stated that South Af- Ninian Stewart The Royal Navy and the Pales- rica had sent a fraction of their volunteers due tine Patrol. Some quotes: “Trade Winds was Ben Hagai Steuerman replies: to financial and organizational problems. In well-prepared with hand rails and ladders cov- In answer to Jack’s letter of June 28 with fact, the recruiting in South Africa was prob- ered in Vaseline.” “The Ulua… was tougher three questions, these are my answers: ably the best organized and financed effort. It meat…signaled changes of course and speed I took four pistols away from the Israeli included pocket money of LP5 (Palestine as though she was the senior officer.” “Colon, youngsters on the ship and gave them to the pounds) to supplement the LP3 pay most vol- ex-HMCS Beauharnois, Wedgewood was captain.I was not taken off the Yucatan but I unteers received, free telephone calls and faster and better found than any encounter was transferred the same day with Ben Berg, cables home, as well as facilities for storing un- hitherto.” Dan Bailey, Bernie Marks and myself, Ben Hagai needed luggage. The author spoke to our people at the ’97 Steuerman. We were transferred to other ships Towards the end of October when the war Reunion in Israel. It is interesting to read the taking refugees to Israel. was turning in our favor, the authorities in Is- insights of the opponents. I do not understand that none of the crew rael ordered the flow of volunteers from South Arthur Bernstein knew me and that no one saw me on the ship. Africa to cease, which left some 2000 disap- If you will refer to the AVI newsletter Spring pointed recruits behind. However, I am happy To the editor: 2001, there is a two and a half page article by to say that about half came on aliya in the years During a business trip to Israel this past David Hanovice regarding the Yucatan. to follow. The recruitment and training in December, I took a one day holiday, rented a (Hanovice wrote, “In all there were seventeen South Africa had been carried out by highly bicycle and cycled approximately 25 miles up ship’s officers and crew members. These included experienced WW II veterans headed by Major and down the hills of the Galilee on the north- Captain Ben Berg; mates; Louis Malik and Leo Kawarsky, a decorated infantry officer of ern frontier of Israel with Lebanon. Jonathan Leff; seamen deckhands, Danny the World War. He had staetd that, given an- I unexpectedly came upon the entrance to Landau, Jacob Teichman (now Nachlieli) and other few months he would have been pre- Kibbutz Sasa. It brought back memories of Jack Fox; Merchant Marine Radioman Lopez; pared to take the majority into military action. 1948 when the American presidential yacht Steward and cook Steward Manuel; Steward’s This discrepancy has been rectified in the Mayflower, renamed SS Mala, sailed from helper, Nathan Mossaieff (now Massi); Chief En- English version, which still bearing the copy- Brooklyn, NY, towards the south of France car- gineer, Dan Bailey; 1st Engineer, Ben Hagai right of the Ministry of Education, could not rying, in addition to the Aliya Bet crew, a few Steuerman, Oiler Day Workers, Abraham be changed or written as completely as we young, idealistic, hard-working kibbutzniks. Mandelberg and David HanoviceÉWhile waiting would have preferred. I must congratulate the These young people were part of garin hay of in Marseilles, all of the American Merchant Sea- coordinator, Zipporah Porath on her editing Hashomer Hatzair. Their hachshara trained in men, including Captain Berg, C/E Dan Bailey. 1st and finding space to include some late arriv- Heightstown, NJ. It was my good fortune in the Assistant Engineer, Ben Hagai Steuerman and ing photographs from the U.S.A. dining room to meet Archie Taller. Like many Bernie Marks were transferred to another ship…” Generally, as you noted in the review, re- of us he probably is in his late sixties and dedi- ed.) garding the target, middle school students,it cated his entire life to the building of Sasa asa Jack Fox, who was close to me on the has turned out to be quite a satisfactory pre- kibbutz, asa community, and also his family Yucatan, died of cancer last year. sentation. Even I, with a limited Hebrew read- with his charming wife.It was wonderful to see May I add that at the request of Paul ing ability, read it in about one hour. I person- Archie again and talk about the voyage of the Shulman, Admiral of the Israeli Navy, I was ally had purchased 20 copies and handed Mala and the holocaust survivors we took out made a naval officer and put in charge of train- them out to family, friends and neighbors in of the camp Grand Arenas near Marseilles and ing future naval officers. Paul Shulman, after a the Lower Galilee where I live. I would like to loaded upon the Mala in the dark of the night about a year , requested that I go to the oil re- recommend that AVI members able to do so, in the small secluded port of La Clotat. fineries in to assist the lead engineer on sponsor, for our friends and relations in Israel, Archie would welcome visitors who are incoming ships with oil. the purchase of the Hebrew booklets. They are Aliya Bet veterans, particularly those he re- If there is any further information, please available at the Ministry of Information Cen- members from the voyage of the Mala. We re- do not hesitate to contact me. tres and at Gefen Publishers in Jerusalem. member Archie asa hard-working member of Ben Hagai Steuerman Regarding the 81srt Battalion (not Division the kitchen crew who always had a hot pot of 4250 N. Marine Dr. (2836), Chicago, IL 60613 as per a previous Newsletter) in which the late coffee ready any hour of the day or night. Ben Sushman had served, Julian Scragenheim While in Israel I called Murray Greenfield To the editor… of South Africa mentions that the number 81 and saw Phil Levine, also a veteran of the Mala, Having read your Winter 2003 Newsletter, was changed to the 89th, whose first and they both send their warmest regards to I must correct part of the Hebrew booklet as comamnder was Moshe Dayan.This Battalion the readers of the AVI Nesletter. indicated by your review. I must admit that I had a complete platoon of English-speaking was partly to blame as I should have paid more Machal from South Africa, the U.K., Canada and Martin Silver, Third Engineer SS Mala attention to the introduction regarding the the U.S.A. To the best of my knowledge this [email protected] See obituary for Archie Taller in this issue. Ed. 8 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER

AVI Members in the News…

Five AVI members have been cited the AVI members who had partici- in the press over the past few months. pated in the June 1 ceremonies on the They include Ralph Lowenstein, Vidal Intrepid. She describes how Nat Nadler, Sassoon, Naomi Kantey, David born in 1927 in Brooklyn, encountered Hanovice and Nat Nadler. A feature ar- anti-Semitism while in basic training in ticle by Gary Kirkland in the Gainesville the Army and, subsequently serving in Sun of April 24 reports that Ralph Europe confronted the concentration Lowenstein will be honored by the camps. A couple of years after his dis- Hillel Foundation at the University of charge, he shipped out on the Presi- Florida with the P’ras Ha Taninim - The dent Warfield from Pier 32 in Philadel- Gator Prize - at a fund-raising dinner phia. Renamed the Exodus, the ship Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Savannah would bring refugees to Palestine. Grande. In addition to heading the Nadler describes the fight aboard the fund-raising drive for a new Hillel ship after the British navy boarded it. building, he served five times as presi- “...they attacked us when we were near dent of the Gainesville Jewish Appeal the cost of Gaza. Of course that was il- and recently chaired the cemetery ex- legal. In the first wave they took con- pansion committee for Congregation trol of the wheelhouse..Everybody got B’nai Israel in Gainesville. For out of the wheelhouse except Bill David Hanovice Lowenstein, the 73-year-old retired Bernstein, this little guy, a second mate dean of the UF College of Journalism with red hair and who was always hors- and Communications, and “Radio ing around. they clubbed him and he Ralph” to listeners on WRUF-AM, pub- died. Before I knew it I was knocked out, lic service isn’t something new. bleeding profusely from my right eye, At 18, he was one of the 1,200 and when I came to I crawled out the Americans and Canadians who fought starboard side of the wheelhouse...Bill in Israel’s War of Independence in 1948. Millman grabbed a British sailor by the He was a half-track driver in an Israeli crotch and by the neck; he picks him armored unit, a job he earned because up and he’s dragging him outside to he’d held a driver’s license since he was throw him over the side. The other Brit- 12. “It was the defining moment of my ish marine takes out a 38mm revolver life,” he said of his experience in the Is- and shoots him in the head. Luckily the raeli Army. “You’re 18 years old and you bullet hit his chin, shattering his jaw- really recognize that nothing you’ll do bone, and he was knocked out. I man- for the rest of your life, no matter what aged to crawl out underneath the tear you accomplish, can really exceed gas.” what you did at 18.” David Hanovice is described as As a U.S. soldier in the Korean War, serving aboard the Noga and later, Lowenstein was among the first group with the rank of hovel in the navy transferred to Fort Bliss, Texas, in 1953 served in naval engagements in 1948 to integrate the last all-black unit in the and 1949. Naomi Kantey grew up in Naomi Kantey U.S. Army. Lowenstein grew up in one New York and became a member of of the 60 Jewish families in Danville, Va., Habonim, the Labor Zionist Youth a town of 35,000 on the North Caro- group. During World War II she served lina border. He learned that being a a nurse in the USN. In November 1947 Jew goes beyond religion, that it she obtained a travel document from means being “a people with shared the Jewish Agency and boarded the ideas and heritage.” Marine Karp for Palestine. hostilities Under the heading “Steaming To- erupted she served as a nurse with the ward Palestine” in the Jewish Standard Israeli forces. Part of the time she of June 13, Joanne Palmer described worked in a hospital in the Negev in- continued on Page 16 9 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER OBITUARIES feullitons as to whether tra la la or tirra lirra Archie Taller: Kibbutz Sasa was the more appropriate means for the word- less presentation of a song (Archie opted for Archie Taller was the earliest and most en- tra la la but the results of the debate which during friend of my childhood. The reflections wracked Ken Ottawa were purposely with- I bring to this moment of farewell are of the held). Archie was also a communicant of the shared influences which shaped us, and which religious movement developed in the Ken give me leave to speak of the origins of those called the Every Day is Wednesday movement, endearing qualities which made Archie the presumably because of the equitable presen- beloved person we all came to know. tation offered by this midweek choice. Archie was born on on January 28, 1925 in The war ended our Ken life. The rise of Ottawa and he grew up in that city. Ottawa Hitler and with it a virulent antisemitism in was, in those days, the 1930’s a dreary little Canada fueled by French Canadian resistance MAX (Michael) FISHMAN, provincial capital, wracked by the cold to the idea of enlisting in the defence of the contemptous antisemitism of the English and Radar Officer with IAF hated English thrust themselves into our con- the rather more violent acting out of the sciousness and brought us finally into various Max Fishman was born in Haverhill, Mass. French Canadians. We lived in the old part of military services. Archie enlisted in the Cana- and brought up in a traditional Jewish home town among a cluster of immigrant Jewish dian Air Force and became an electronic tech- with Zionist values. He passed away in families, separated from the neighbors by a de- nician spending time in England. At this time on February 5th 2002 after a lifetime of note- termined orthodoxy and compulsory atten- he was considering using his military benefits worthy scientific achievements. He was in his dance, enforced by our parents, at the to finally go to the University at the war’s end. 81st year. Machzikei Hadas two blocks away. Instead, in 1947 he opted to make aliya and Max began his electrical engineering stud- Our saving grace was our early enlistment, by join Kibbutz Sasa. ies in 1939 at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Institute my older brother, into Hashomer Hatzair. Ken In the kibbutz Archie’s mission became, as of Technology. On obtaining his Masters de- Ottawa shared comfortable quarters with the we all know, the maintenance with Yudi of the gree, with the USA in the war by then, he joined local Poalei Zion. We early became a sufficient refet. Their efforts, both sometimes in opposi- the US Navy soon. After completing an offic- force in Jewish Ottawa for the local rabbi to tion to kibbutz politics and in sheer backbreak- ers course, Max saw service in the Pacific The- denounce us erev Yom Kippur as a threat to ing labor, made this finally an “anaf machnis” atre as Communications Officer on a seaplane- the Jewish youth of the city. Nonetheless the and a further tribute to their tenacity. These refueling tender. After VJ Day he taught elec- local Talmud Torah early allowed us to meet in need no further mention here. tronics at the US Naval Academy. their basement and their teachers were de- But profoundly important to mention— Upon his release from the Navy, Max re- lighted to have us as enthusiastic students of and I know it only from a distance and turned to the Carnegie Institute of Technology Hebrew. infredquent contacts —is the enormous stat- where in 1948 he obtained a PhD in electrical Archie was a very bright student. In public ure which Archie achieved in the kibbutz as engineering. As an active Zionist, and keenly school, he was skipped from grade four to an exceptional human being, humane, patient aware of the grave dangers then facing the grade six and then went on to commercial generous and with that wonderful self-dep- nascent Jewish State, he declined offers for high school where annually he was the high- recating humor that touched on important is- work in his field and instead traveled to New est ranked member of his class and the class sues without wounding and without self-in- York to volunteer for the cause. medalist. By our third year our teachers were flation. and with which he charmed us so For the next few months Max was a busy urging us to switch to an academic track which memorably at the Fiftieth Anniversay Celebra- member of Teddy Kollek’s team in New York, would permit university entrance. To my regret tion. His death on November 7, 2002, leaves a covertly procuring war-surplus communica- Archie demurred, I think now, perhaps, to go wrenching loss in the lives of Yehudit, Amnon, tion and radar equipment for the nascent Is- to work and help out the family. Rafi, Nomi and their families, and in the larger rael Air Force (IAF). In November he flew to Is- But family and school were only exterior family of the kibbutz. However, it leaves as well rael so as to be on hand when the first ship- elements in the profound interior life we led the tangible contributions he made to the kib- ment of ‘his’ equipment arrived in Haifa. Max in the ken. Far from metropolitan sophistica- butz and the quietly inspiring image of a truly was soon at Har Meron, near Zefat, supervis- tion, and led by madrichim dedicated more to noble nature, unspoiled and untainted as I ing the installation of an early-warning radar tzofiut and the dream of kibbutz, our thrust have know him from childhood to this mo- station and instructing others in its operation was towards an intense social life mediated by ment of farewell. and maintenance. music (Arturo Toscannini and the NBC Sym- Haim Gunner As Technical Officer of the IAF’s radar unit, phony Orchestra to which we regularly fell Condolences to: 505 Squadron, Max trained technicians in elec- asleep at their late Saturday night concerts), Yehudit Taller. Kibbuts Sasa 13870. Israel. tronics instrumentation and set up a commu- skiing in the winter with our kvutzah, the 972-4-6988647, [email protected] nications workshop in Sarafand. It was while in the summer and a freedom from he was with 505 that he met Zehava Itzhaki, ideological cant. For Archie music remained a We are saddened one of the unit’s few Israeli radar operators, central passion and a whistle from me outside to note the death of Esther Miller whom he married in October 1949. The new- his house from any obscure theme would gen- May 24, 2003 lyweds lived for a time at Kibbutz Yagur, where erate an immediate response. Holocaust survivor Zehava taught school while Max set up the Archie was always the quiet one. In our and refugee counselor Communication Technicians School at Haifa boisterous, talkative, verbal competiveness wife of AVI veteran airbase - his final IAF assignment. Archie maintained a Lincolnesque reserve, but Leo Miller Unable to find work in his field as a civil- like Lincoln already laced with the humor that 12 Harris Street ian, Max and Zehava moved to the USA in July we all have come to know and love. Already Randolph, MA 02368 1950. During the years that followed, Max held in Ken Ottawa we were writing challenging 10 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER OBITUARIES CONTINUED high-level positions at Convair, at Lockheed’s of Commander for many years prior to his re- missile division as their liaison man to the Pen- tirement. He was also an active and well-re- tagon, and at Stanford University in the devel- spected Life Member of the Navy League, as opment of a linear accelerator. well as a two-term President of its Council. In 1970, at the invitation of the electronic Bob was in his 81st year when he passed optics firm El-Op - Tasiya Electro-Optit, Max away on March 23rd, 2003, in Atlantis, Florida, and his family moved to Israel. For the first after a bout with cancer. He was buried with three years he also taught at Holon Institute full military honors, as a former USN Com- of Technology - later part of Tel Aviv Univer- mander. sity. While with El-Op, he was twice awarded In whatever task he undertook, Bob was a the renowned Kaplan Prize; the first time for tireless and dedicated worker. His friendly de- developing a machine that translates regular meanor and positive attitude earned him the Stewert R. Sprung in Geneva text to Braille and later for developing a night- respect of everyone who knew him, even of vision sight for the Galil rifle. STEWART ROBERT “BOB” those he arrested during his years as police In 1979 Max took up a teaching post at Sac- detective. ramento State University and later worked for SPRUNG, Operation Balak He is survived his wife of 51 years, Doris, GE’s Nuclear Division. For five years prior to his and their sons Eric, Elliott, Brad and Julian. Con- retirement in 1991, he taught electronics at Stewart Robert Sprung, better known as dolences may be sent to Doris Sprung, 6412 Fresno University. In 1997 they returned to Is- Bob throughout his lifetime, was born and Tiara Dr., Boynton Beach, Fl. 33437. rael. brought up in New York. He enlisted in the US *** Max is survived by Zehava, his wife and Navy in February 1943, and saw active service Prepared by Eddy Kaplansky. partner of some 53 years, by their children in the Pacific Theater as an Aviation Machin- [email protected] Ronit, Ethan, Deena and Yonathan, 11 grand- ists Mate, First Class. Following his release from children, and his sister Rose Jacobson.. the Navy in March 1946, he enrolled in the Whether as Max, or by his Hebrew name University of Miami under the GI Bill of Rights, Michael - which he went by during his peri- but in 1948 interrupted his studies to volun- ods of residence in Israel, he is fondly remem- teer for the nascent Israel Air Force (IAF). bered by all who knew him for his professional I met Bob by chance in June 1948 on a integrity and dedication to the Zionist cause. flight out of New York. He was sitting next to His former comrades-in-arms of 505 Squadron me, a total stranger whose sturdy build led me also remember him as a modest person who to suspect that he was a plain-clothes cop. And rarely mentioned his WW2 activities in the US when I noticed a shoulder-holster under his Navy. Few were aware at the time that Max had jacket out of the corner of my eye, I was sure a PhD, probably the only Machalnik with that that he was an FBI agent. Only after we arrived distinction. in Geneva did I discover that we were fellow Zehava would be pleased to hear from volunteers on our way to Israel and the IAF. Our anyone who knew Max back then. Her address continuing journey, on a non-scheduled DC- Yehuda Selah is 34 Jabotinsky St, Givatayim 53361, Israel. Fax 3, was a circuitous one on which Bob acted as number; + (972 3) 732 1839. Phone number; + flight engineer. Yehuda Selah: Served on (972 3) 731 8907. Soon after we landed in Haifa, Bob was as- Aliya Bet Ship Haganah ***** signed to Air Transport Command (ATC) at Prepared by Eddy Kaplansky, Haifa. Ekron Air Force base where his task was to Yehuda Selah, born Harry Silverman in New [email protected], ensure a quick turnaround for ATC’s C-46 and York on April 27, 1918. He grew up in the Bronx DC-4 transport planes. ATC aircraft were then in a typical family of new immigrants with a fully occupied with Operation Balak, the vital sister (Muriel) and a younger brother (Bill) At airlift from Czechoslovakia of much- needed about age 12 he joined Hashomer Hatzair and fighter planes (Czech-built Me109s) and other quickly absorbed its Zionist ideology. It be- military hardware. Before long he was trans- came the most important part of his life. He ferred to ATC’s de facto home base at Zatec, would look forward to the summer and win- Czechoslovakia. ter Moshavot and loved the Ken with its sichot, On his return to the USA, Bob resumed his singing and dancing. studies at the University of Miami and in 1950 He graduated from Morris High School in obtained his Bachelors degree in mechanical 1936 amidst the depression. His first job was engineering. But with few job-opportunities in in a dental technicians laboratory in the Em- that field at the time, Bob accepted an offer to pire State Building for $5/week. With the oc- join the City of Miami police department. Af- casional elevator operators strike he would ter some twenty-two years with the force, for have to walk up the nineteen stories to the lab the most part as a sergeant-detective, Bob twice a day. Later he obtained a civil service switched to the Miami Port Authority where job with the Postal Service, which was a step his domain was initially Port Security and then up economically. But, he always placed the Port Operations. movement first. He did Hachshara for Palestine During most of his civilian life Bob was an in Hightstown. Stewert R. Sprung in the US Navy officer in the US Naval Reserve, with the rank In 1942, he joined the United States Army 11 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER

West Point, May 4, 2003 tally killed by one of his own sentries the OBITUARIES CONTINUED continued from Page 2 night of June 10, 1948 at Abu Gosh. William Bernstein graduated from • M aurice Commanday, Air Force the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at • M ax Fishman, Air Force Kings Point and served in the U.S. Navy • Miriam Hessel, Army during World War II. He served as second • Stan Klorman, Pan York mate on the “Exodus 1947”. The ship with and Seventh Brigade 4,553 refugees aboard set out to sea from • Elkan Levitan, Air Force Sete, France followed by the HMS Ajax • S amuel Morris, Air Force plus British destroyers intent on enforc- • Rudolph Newman, Air Force ing the British blockade. Early in the morn- • L eo Nomis, Air Force ing of July 18, 1947 close to the coast of • Jack Olfman, Air Force Mandate Palestine, the British marines • M ildred Rosenberg, Army boarded the ship swinging their clubs. The Nursing Mothers Corner on the Haganah, • B en Sklar, Exodus refugees resisted. In the battle, with no photo by Yehuda Selah • L eslie Solomon, Altalena firearms being used by either side, three Air Corps and entered an aerial photography • S t e w art Sprung, Air Force men were clubbed to death; two Polish course. He served as a photographer overseas in • Archie Taller, Mala England and, following D-day he accompanied refugees and Bill Bernstein. • P ercy Tolchinsky, Air Force New Yorker Sam Pomerance was an his unit to France and Luxemburg where he • Joe Tunis, Artillery searched for Jews. Discharged from the army in aeronautical engineer and licensed pilot. 1945, he got wind of the illegal ships moving Jews • Emmanuel Weinstein, Hatikvah, He was recruited by the Haganah as a to Palestine and sailed for France to sign on. There Palmach, Navy technical supervisor of the Air Transport he joined the crew of the Haganah where, with Command, flying materiel, including Spit- all the difficult conditions aboard, he enjoyed talk- Ido Aharoni of the Consulate General in fire fighter planes from Czechoslovakia in ing with the passengers. The voyage between New York, the guest speaker, provided an July, 1948. The aircraft were Jerry- rigged Marseilles and Haifa carried the American news- analysis of Israel’s continuing political and to boost their range and flew to Israel in paperman I.F.Stone who would send regular dis- military struggle. Despite the homicide patches on the conflict between the British and groups arriving in time to engage the en- bombings and other terrorist actions, he emy in the major fall and winter Palestinian Jews. Yehuda helped him with pho- described the morale in Israel as positive tographs of the ship and its passengers. Some of offensives. Sam Pomerance his life in the these received awards from Bet Hatefutsot and and determined. The continued support Yugoslav mountains attempting to reach from Stef Werthheimer’s gallery at Metulla. of American Jewry and the American gov- the refueling site in a blinding snowstorm In Palestine he joined a gareen in Rishon- ernment offer assurance of an eventual on December 18, 1948. Lezion, which was later to become Kibbutz Hatzor. victory. As his words were absorbed by the Mandel Math served in the U.S. Army In 1947 he married Rachel Pinchasi. Yehuda and assembled, the Shapiro Family Choir, regu- participating in the liberation of the Rachel were sent to Los Angeles as shlichim in lar annual participants in the ceremonies, Dachau and Buchenwald death camps 1949 and returned to Israel in 1951 with their sang a medley of Israeli songs of courage baby Ami. Later they had a daughter Ophra who and Jerome(Jerry) Kaplan served in the and hope. U.S. Navy as a Pharmacist’s mate in World died of an illness in 1969. In the Kibbutz he As their voices faded into the back- worked in the refet and later in the factory and War II. Both men fell in the battle for Latrun served as Kibbutz Secretary. After many years as ground, Marcia Wolman ascended the on May 13, 1948, the day before the State a widower he met Leah Weintraub who became podium and provided the following remi- was declared. Their bodies were never re- his common-law wife. Yehuda died on May 3, niscences of eight who gave their lives in covered. 2003 leaving Leah, their children and grandchil- the 1948 struggle. Following is an excerpt Leonard (Len) Fitchett served as a dren, who remain in the Kibbutz. from her remarks: pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force cred- New Yorker David (Mickey) Marcus ited with shooting down the last enemy Bill Selah completed the U.S. Military Academy at plane before Germany’ s surrender. As a West Point and served in both the Pacific Christian, he felt that Israel’s battle for free- Condolences to and the European theaters during World Leah Weintraub, dom was his fight as well. He volunteered Kibbutz Hatzor, Israel War II. He landed with the paratroopers and flew in the IAF’s 103 Squadron down- in Normandy and later witnessed the dev- ing 3 Egyptian Spitfires. His Beaufighter astation of the concentration camps. was shot down by anti-aircraft fire while Colonel Marcus, recruited by the Haganah, making a low-level attack against the guided the transition of an underground Egyptian forces at the Iraq el Sueidan po- guerilla force to the nucleus of a function- lice fortress. He is buried in the non-Jew- ing army, the IDF (). ish section of Haifa Military Cemetery. The Ben Gurion appointed him commander of remains of his two crewmen, pilot Stan the Jerusalem sector, besieged by Arab Andrews of the USA and navigator Dov troops. He was instrumental in construct- Sugarman of Britain were never found. ing the “Burma” road, skirting the enemy Arthur Bernstein, veteran of the ships positions and breaking the siege of Hayim Arloseroff and Medinat Yisrael, Correction of photo in Winter 2003 Newsletter Jerusalem. Mickey Marcus was acciden- continued on Page 13 12 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER West Point, May 4, 2003 continued from Page 12 tried to put in words our reasons for an- no money, no nothing, they brought me • Harold Monash swering the call in 1948. Arthur’s account to the very house I sought. The driver went • Jerome Kaplan was personal; and yet, in many respects, alone to the house and spoke with a man. • Mandel Math caught a sense of our shared motives. Fol- They motioned for me to approach them • Moshe Geberer lowing is a nearly full text of his speech: and in that short instant it took to walk to • G eorge F. “Buzz” Beurling • Moses Aaron Rosenbaum …The captain of the Ulua was Gad the doorway the words came to mind that • Baruch Linsky Hilb, a Palestinian Jewish lad. He hid his would make me credible. ‘Dr. Hilb, the sec- • Jacob Klein role to protect his family. I was the legal ond mate on the SS Katherine Lukenbach, • Harvey Cohen captain and made public contact. Out of asked me to visit you.’ Only my skipper’s • Edward Lugech respect and affection for my former skip- father would know his previous job. My • I r ving Sevin per, I speak out on this now. But more of welcome was as a returning son. Once • David “Mickey” Marcus this family matter later. again, we’re one big Jewish family. • L ouis Ball “The most frequently asked question “The Mossad had us pick up more pas- • William Edmondson on the part of reporters is, ‘Why did you sengers one dark night off the beach at • R o b e r t L ester Vickman go? Did you realize the historical signifi- Metaponte, Italy. We anchored quietly in • Reuben Schiff cance of your actions?’ Let’s take that last shallow water, promptly and relatively ef- • Joseph Kahn • Sidney Rubinoff question first. We have long passages at ficiently, started taking aboard 700 more • S p encer Andrew Boyd sea, for days on end. For four of every passengers in the finest surreptitious and • Edward Leonard Troyen twelve hours we are on watch primarily clandestine manner. Suddenly I noticed • Sidney Leisure occupied with our thoughts. On this trip I two females on deck. One was shrieking • S tanley Andrews recall my most searching thoughts were and crying. Two sisters had met. Each had • L eonard Fitchett that if the sky doesn’t clear and the sun thought the other had perished. On deck • Jack Shulman come out so that we can accurately de- in the black busy night they hugged and • Wilfred Canter termine our position, we’re in trouble. His- we shed a tear. And that’s why we did it! • William Fisher tory never entered into our geometric “My understanding of the Bar-Mitzvah • Fred Stevenson equations. The job at hand was our con- event is to have the confirmand identify • Oliver Garfield Holton cern. with the previous generations, feeling a • A l an Levy • R alph Moster “So what made you do it? Primarily sense of achievement, participating in • S am Pomerance two things. One, dad used to say to me, and fulfilling one’s responsibilities in Jew- • Philip Balkin ‘Vos shtaystu azoy vi a gelamteh golem? ish life. • Jacob Rothman Tu eppes. (Don’t stand there like a mute “What I did was my Bar Mitzvah. That’s robot. Do something.) I did. why I did it.” Sidney Rabinovich eulogized the “Two, in my final year in high school, Arthur descended from the podium to fallen, commending their heroism and exactly sixty years ago, I heard and read a hushed audience. Chaplain Shulman of- their sacrifice for the rescue of Displaced extensively about the Warsaw Ghetto re- fered a Benediction and the JWV contin- Jews and for the establishment of the volt. This event resonates with me still. I gent marched in a retreat of colors. Jewish State. The Shapiro Choir sang and just didn’t think we had to take this kind A few moments later we stood before Rabbi Shulman read a Psalm and then he of treatment. the tombstones of David and Emma and Consul Aharoni, Col. Zickel and Paul “I recall that in the course of our voy- Marcus in the Academy’s Military Cem- Kaye placed wreaths at the base of the age, we dropped anchor in a quiet cove etery. Four cadets, two bore rifles and the two tombstones. The Shapiro Choir for a couple of days with our 600, or so, other two bore an American and the chanted the solemn tones of the K’el ‘Swedish passengers,’ it was in North Af- Academy flag, respectively, marched to Maleh Rachamim followed immediately rica. With no watch duty, I had my first the site in formation presenting the col- by a twenty-one-gun salute by the cadet opportunity to spend family time with ors. Five AVI veterans stepped forward, Firing Squad. In the distance, a cadet bu- them—socialize, flirt, speak some Yiddish holding the AVI banner, and read the gler sounded Taps and there was an or- and share some songs. You cannot imag- names of the forty fallen. The names are dered discharge of colors. ine their surprise that I, an American sailor inscribed at the Machal Memorial sites at spoke and sang in Yiddish precisely as Sha’ar Hagai and Har El in Israel. The as- they did in Vilna. You want to know why I sembled stood at attention as the names did it? We’re one big Jewish family. were read in order of the dates on which “Another yarn, Capt. Hilb told me that they fell: if ever I was adrift in Palestine, safe har- • William Bernstein bor was to be found with his folks atop • Moshe Avigdor Perlstein Mt. Carmel in Ahuza in Haifa. Well, events • Dov Seligman happen as they say and I had escaped • Are Lashner capture by the British with the aid of those • David Guenther Livingston • William Gerson wonderful Egged Bus drivers. No papers, • G lenn Ernest King Cadet Honor Guard

13 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER Arab Machal tered the land along with irregular religious and political tendencies. continued from Page 1 forces, which consisted of Arab vol- When the Afghan-Russian war hand, in view of the chaos in unteers from various political ended, this phenomenon did not Baghdad and other large Iraqi groups. The most prominent were come to an end. Some of them pre- towns, one is reminded about how volunteers associated with the Mus- ferred not to return to their native little one knows of the realities of lim Brotherhood in Egypt in coordi- lands out of fear of the power of the their situation. But, in all events it nation with the Muslim Brother- security apparatus, which consid- would be useful to shed some light hood in Syria and some number of ered them a danger to the political on this aspect of the current Iraqi Palestinian Muslims. order. A portion of them remained situation. The following points will These volunteers enjoyed several in Afghanistan while others mi- be discussed: victories on the battlefield especially grated to other burning and tense • T he roots of the Arab volunteer in attacking the Israeli rear echelons. locations where they could again phenomenon…the example of Pal- At the end of the war, with the Arab serve as volunteer fighters. They estine and Afghanistan. armies in crisis and retreat, volunteer spread to places such as Chechnya, • T he Arab volunteers in Iraq, their resistance groups remained in sev- Bosnia and Somalia, among others. ideological roots and organizational eral Palestinian cities and towns not At the same time, the security and context. under Israeli control. Some were in intelligence services of the Arab • T heir situation in Iraq before and military camps established by the countries continued to pursue them, after the war. in the Negev desert. Af- especially after September 11 in the • T he future scenarios awaiting ter negotiations between Arab po- United States. them. litical leaders, especially the Egyp- tian Prime Minister Mahmud Fahmy Volunteers in Iraq Arab Volunteers…Their Appear- al-Niqrashi, and the British who, at Some characteristics of the vol- ance in Palestine as a Model that time occupied Egypt, an agree- unteer movement changed in the Arab volunteers offering assis- ment was completed. Its main pro- case of Iraq. Iraq’s need for volun- tance to those they considered visions were that they terminate teers emerged after it became cer- “weak” who were facing the “strong” their activity, disband the groups of tain that this Arab country was is nothing new. Contemporary his- the Muslim Brotherhood (who had headed for war during February and tory is replete with such situations, organized and trained the Arab vol- March of 2003. As at the beginning which follow from the activities of unteers in Palestine) and that the of the Afghan-Russian war a number the Palestinian resistance to Jewish returning volunteers would be ar- of Arab countries ignored the fact of immigration at the beginning of the rested. There was a fear that they their citizens traveling there. The se- twentieth century when a number would renew their activities in Egypt curity services of some of these of volunteers slipped into Palestine, against the British. They were impris- countries encouraged them. Fatwas especially in the Jordanian frontier oned in the Sinai desert. were published in Egypt and Syria, communities, and participated which treated attacks on occupying along with the native populations of The Field of Martyrdom is Real- American and British forces as an oc- these towns in protecting their se- ized Again in Afghanistan casion for martyrdom. This opened curity. Later, they participated with The most important pages of the the “gates of jihad” to encouraging them in military actions against the history of Arab volunteerism were these young volunteers to stand Israeli settlements that were estab- written in Afghanistan in the early alongside of their Iraqi “brothers.” lished under the eye of and with the eighties following the Soviet de- The head of the leading institution blessing of the British occupiers of struction of the country. In Afghani- of Sunni Islam, the honored al-Azhar, Palestine at that time. stan, among its mountains and offered its help to anyone seeking Later, the volunteer movement heights, Arab volunteerism again “jihad” in Iraq. was expanded when, in 1948, Israel developed as a way to support the Their Ideological and Organiza- established its government, which “weak” against the “strong.” This was tion Development the United States, and the Soviet a period of ideological development Under the influence of propa- Union recognized just moments af- of a movement developed on Af- ganda-inflamed feelings and driven ter its declaration. The regular armies ghan soil and which matured in the by hatred for Americans, young Arab of several neighboring nations en- late eighties. Its members repre- sented a mixture of various Islamic continued on Page 15 14 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER Arab Machal fighting the organized invasion. of the Iraqi government. They be- continued from Page 14 Subsequently the volunteers were came the object of British and men responded to the call and dispersed among several Iraqi cities American propaganda aimed to cre- streamed to Iraq. This flow was dif- in addition to Baghdad, such as ate a split between them and the ferent from that to Afghanistan. They Basra and Mosul. Their functions are Iraqi people to facilitate identifying were not all Muslims but drew from not known precisely. Perhaps the them before they melted into the among various other groups such as former Iraqi leadership was able to larger Iraqi community. Christians, leftists and nationalists place them to protect institutions or and even hangers-on associated at barricades at the entrances of Summary Remarks After 50 Years with a variety of ideological and or- main thoroughfares of Baghdad or Several remarks are in order on ganizational groups. were more widely dispersed than this phenomenon: that. • These volunteers were motivated Their Numbers by nationalism, religious salvation or, It is difficult to be precise about Their Functions in the War at the very least, they were not cut the numbers of those who went to When the war broke out on off from these forces. Iraq because they left their countries Thursday morning March 20 the • At the end of a war the balance different ways. Some left as tourists, press attended to the important of power changed. The attitudes of others for studies and others to ful- events such as the continuous governments toward them changed fill the ‘umra (special pilgrimage to bombing of Baghdad and the from what it had been prior to the Mecca), etc. It is not possible to rely battles around Um Qasr and Basra. war. They were pursued and their on the Iraqi declarations that eight No one paid attention to the volun- mentality disparaged. Dealing with thousand volunteers arrived as the teers excepting when they mounted them became the responsibility to Minister of Information, Mahmud several guerilla attacks. The most military courts and in some coun- Said al-Sahaf, announced. General prominent being that which oc- tries they have nearly been wiped Hazm al-Rawi, spokesman for the curred on March 29 when the Ameri- out. Iraqi army estimated four thousand can military admitted to the loss of The British and Americans are arrivals from all Arab countries. five American soldiers as a result of committed to fighting them and These announcements came at the the explosion of an automobile in their fate remains unknown. How height of their military struggle for southwest Baghdad. Several British many of them might be prisoners of existence and were a political ele- soldiers were kidnapped in Basra the Americans? To what extent are ment juxtaposed between the past that same day. These were but two they considered by the Americans as government of Iraq and the Ameri- of the actions of the volunteers. prisoners of war or simply enemies can and British fighting forces. There of the United States? How many are is no way of estimating whether Their Situation Following the Col- among their brothers in there were hundreds or thousands lapse of the Regime Gauntanomo and how many remain and any research to provide precise On the ninth of April, under un- in Iraq awaiting a renewal of the re- statistics would be difficult at clear circumstances, the veil of se- sistance when other volunteers may present. crecy was taken away and American join them? Will it be possible to get forces entered Baghdad without any them back to their countries? How Their Training and Encampments resistance and most of the city sur- will their governments receive The volunteers arrived in Iraq and rendered quietly. No sign could be them? Many questions remain re- were stationed in several army seen of organized Iraqi forces. One garding the fate of these volunteers. camps, which the former Iraqi re- heard no voices of resistance ex- The problem has become one of the gime established for them. Several cepting that which came from one important concerns after the war. hastily arranged training courses or another neighborhood. Iraqi sol- served those who had not had prior diers abandoned their positions in experience with light arms. Al- Baghdad and none remained, inex- Jazeera was able to visit one such plicably, to confront the invaders. camp before the war broke out. The There was no sign of martyrdom. Iraqi army declared that it was pre- The volunteers received no rein- paring them to become martyrs in forcement nor supplies nor organi- zational direction after the collapse

15 SUMMER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER Members in the News continued from Page 9 oculating Egyptian prisoners against typhoid. The English edition of Haaretz of March 21 carried a sketch of Vidal Sassoon entitled “This Hairdresser did not curl up and dye.” by Orly Halpern. She describes how Vidal, along with his brother, was placed in Jewish orphan- age in London. At 14, he began work- ing at washing hair and from that humble beginning developed his hair Ralph Lowenstein, Photo by Doug Finger styling skills and his corporations. The article relates how he stopped sham- pooing and came to fight in Israel’s War of Independence. He was put in a unit with two other Britons and an Ameri- can. He said, “I couldn’t understand Nat Nadler how the Israelis won the war. I never thought of losing, but I couldn’t dream we’d win in such a way.”

Vidal Sassoon

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