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SUMMER 2005 AMERICAN VETERANS OF ISRAEL VOLUNTEERS IN ISRAEL’S WAR OF INDEPENDENCE UNITED STATES & CANADA VOLUNTEERS 136 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016

West Point 2005: Remains of Two Machal MIAs Found and More Reports Identified After 57 Years The Machal memorial at Stanley Andrews. An article in both Volunteering to Become a Sha’ar Hagai lists 40 names of the English and Hebrew editions of Hero Americans and Canadians, Jews Haaretz of August 15, 2005 reported and non-Jews, who fell in the Israel finding and identifying the remains Boaz Ga’on, West Point War of Independence between 1947 of eight MIA including Math and This article was originally and 1948. Six of these are listed as Kaplan. Following is a reprint of published in the Shavuot Supplement MIAs and were long presumed dead. the article followed by comments to Ma’ariv, June 6, 2005. It has been They are Jerome Kaplan, Mandel from two of their comrades in the translated by the AVI Newsletter Math, Harvey Cohen, Edward Givati Brigade and sketches of editor. The article belongs to a Lugech, Robert Lester Vickman and them from A. Joseph Heckelman’s literary genre of perceptions of American Volunteers and Israel’s the “self” by the “other” such as DEDICATION OF War of Independence (1974). A European travelers who publish photograph of Math and Kaplan their perceptions of America. Of THE ALIYAH BET along with some comrades from course, American Jews dedicated AND MACHAL Givati, which appeared in the to Israel minimize differences MUSEUM English translation of the Machal between themselves and their Israeli (NOV. 18-20, 2005) booklet (2003), accompanies the compatriots. Yet, life conditions and text. The AVI Newsletter, summer, experiences leave their marks. Invitations to members follow by 1999 p.3-4 carried a translation of mail an article from the Yiddish Forward Colonel “Mickey” Marcus on Mandel Math. was killed in the Jerusalem hills American Veterans of Israel during t he War of Independence. (AVI) announces a gathering of IDF team locates bodies of 8 Ilan Chersky arrived from Beverly Aliyah Bet and Machal Veterans over who fell in ‘48 Hills and was killed in 1973 on the weekend of November 18-20 to the banks of the Suez Canal. Paul inaugurate the Permanent Aliyah Bet The Israel Defense Forces Kaye ran away from his home in and Machal Display housed in the unit for finding missing persons 1947 in order to help establish the new $8.5 million Hillel building at recently discovered the burial sites of Israeli fleet. Bob Marom was a tank Gainesville, Florida. All the events eight soldiers who were killed during driver in the Yom Kippur War. Once will take place at the Hillel House. the 1948 War of Independence and each year Kaye, Marom and their Meals are prepared by the Hillel staff laid to rest on Mount Herzl and in colleagues gather at the prestigious and are certified Kosher. Family and Rosh Pina. West Point Military Academy in friends are welcome. Five of the soldiers had order to memorialize the Jews who served in the Givati unit and were fell in the 1948 war. killed near Kibbutz Nahshon, and WESTPOINT continued on page 4 DEDICATION continued on page 20 MIA’S continued on page 2 three of the soldiers were killed near Two Comrades Remember American Veterans of Israel Mishmar Hayarden. 136 E. 39 Street The Givati soldiers were part Two of these soldiers, New York, NY 10016-0914 Officers and Executive Board of a force that captured an abandoned Jerry Kaplan and Mandel Matt, are British detention camp near Kibbutz well known to some of us. Jerry, President Nahshon. On the morning of May from Bayonne N.J., and Mandel Ira Feinberg 13, 1948, the force was hit by heavy 201 886 1188 from Brooklyn, N.Y. were both gunfire. Corporal Shlomo Barber, Machalniks. Both had Zionist Vice President Private Yehuda Kaplan and Private backgrounds and good Jewish Bill Gelberg Matt Mandel went to the eastern fence educations. Matt was particularly Executive Director of the camp to get a cannon, and were Orthodox, having been an active Simon Spiegelman killed on the spot. Two other missing member of Mizrachi and in his 212 685 8548 soldiers - Private Yaakov Shenweiss younger days, a Yeshiva bocher. [email protected] and Private Moshe Hasman - were hit Both had served in the U.S. armed Treasurer near the western side of the fence, and forces in WWII. Jerry in the Navy David Gerard that is where their bodies remained. as a pharmacist’s mate and Mandel At the end of 1949, while as an infantryman in Europe Vice Presidents members of the I DF rabbinate were where at one time he faced a court Canada: Jerry Rosenberg searching for missing soldiers from martial for his refusal, because he Israel Liaison: David Baum Operation Bin-Nun A, they found the was a Kohayn, to participate in a [email protected] bodies they were looking for, as well grave registration detail handling as those of three unidentified men the remains of Jewish victims at USA Regions Northeast: Paul Kaye buried in a mass grave of the brigade Dachau. Southeast: Irving Meltzer that had carried out the operation. Jerry and Mandel left New West: Bailey Nieder Investigators from the missing York on 3/30/48. They arrived in Midwest: Ben Hagai Steuerman persons unit concluded that the bodies Israel on 4/14/48 where they met Directors had belonged to Barber, Kaplan and up with a group of Machalniks from Newsletter, Internet and Mandel. Boston, Chicago and New York. Trustees Committee: At the beginning of 1950, members The unit was assigned to Givati’s Samuel Z. Klausner 215 473 6034 of the IDF rabbinate conducted 51st battallion G (as in Gimel) [email protected] searches in the area west of the British company, based in Kibbutz Hulda detention camp and found 24 bodies across the valley from Latrun. It was Archives and Museum of IDF soldiers. But according to the in a firefight on a hilltop across the Ralph Lowenstein [email protected] investigators, the brigade that fought highway from Latrun that Jerry and there - Brigade 7 - lost 22 soldiers in Mandel went missing on 5/13/48, Speakers Bureau: the battle that took place there. The the day before Yom Atzmaut and Naomi Kantey other two, say the investigators, are just one month after they arrived in 201 489 3809 Shenweiss and Hasman. Israel. Aleihem hashalom. Activities and Membership Major General Elazar Stern, As much as we appreciate David Hanovice (USA) head of the personnel directorate, the story in Haaretz, there are a Joe Warner (Canada) approved the inquiry findings after number of errors and omissions in Art Bernstein (Museum) Representative to World Machal hearing the explanations given by it which should be corrected for Zippy Porath IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier General historical accuracy: 1) the story [email protected] Yisrael Weiss and the investigators. refers to Private Matt Mandel. His The families of the dead have been Websites name is, in fact, Mandel Matt. 2) http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~sklausne/avi- informed that their graves have been There is no identification of Jerry web.html found. and Mandel as Machalniks. 3) The http://www.israelvets.com story suggests that the operation Eli Ashkenazi in which they went missing was at

the site of an Abandoned British Talmudic fashion they are probably from my brother in Jerusalem: detention camp near Kibbutz still debating the question wherever “Sid: I’ve asked the Jerusalem Nachshon. Actually, that camp is they are. Lahem: Kol Hakavod. Post military correspondent, who nowhere near Nachshon. Rather, it Arnold Sternberg originally wrote the news item, is near Hulda, and the Brit’s camp whether he can find out more or is today the site of a joint Israeli Right after the battle (it at least tell me who I can contact. Arab-Jewish village known as wasn’t much of a battle) we had 2 He’s involved right now with the N’veh Shalom. 4) The Haaretz story cannon made of wood, plus rifles. evacuation story but he hopefully mentions “heavy gunfire” hitting We were being shelled and machine will come up with something.” gunned, and had to retreat. Afterward, the Givati force. That gunfire, Sidney Rabinovich according to a front page story in the the bodies weren’t located, and we Palestine (now Jerusalem) Post, the thought maybe they had been blown From the Heckelman book- up. At the same time, others were day after the battle (Friday, 5/14/48 Mandel Math -- Born August killed, and Al Glassman was hit in came from six British Comet tanks 22, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York. his finger by shrapnel. By the way, stationed at the Tegart fortress at Given a strongly religious upbringing Latrun (now the IDF armored corps Mandel’s name was Math. at home and in school. His elementary museum). 5) The Haaretz story also education was at a day school says Jerry and Mandel went to the (Yeshiva), continuing at Herzliah eastern fence of the camp to get a Hebrew High School in New York. His cannon. They were in fact sent to attendance at Brooklyn College was retrieve ammo from the platoon’s interrupted by World War II. He served bus, which had been disabled by in the U.S. Army, participating in the the British tank fire. There was liberation of the survivors of the death no cannon. The heaviest piece of camps of Dachau and Buchenwald. “artillery” in the platoon was a 2- Was court-martialed and vindicated inch mortar minus its base plate. It for his religious convictions. As a was on that ammo retrieval mission “Kohen”(a descendant of the priestly L-R Top Row, Arnie Sternberg, Bert Bean, Sidney that Jerry and Mandel went missing. Rabinovich; Below them: Art Sockol, Mandel Math, class in the days of the Temple in 6) Haaretz makes no mention of a Jerry Kaplan; Kneeling: Elly Harris, unidentified Jerusalem), strict Jewish Law forbids comrade, unidentified comrade, Al Glassman, Naish search of the battlefield by a small Band, Harry Kaye (Kravitsky) any unnecessary contact with the dead group of platoon members the night (other than one’s immediate family). following the firefight in a futile Jerry and Mandel had already Mandel understood this to apply to attempt to find the two missing descended from the top of the hill, to the ashes and the other remains in the men. safety. But they were sent back to death camps, and therefore refused There’s more that could be retrieve ammo, and this time they got to participate directly in their burial, written about the contribution made hit. My memory isn’t what it used to since this could be done by others by Jerry and Mandel to Israel’s be. But Jerry wasn’t religious, and it and there was other work he could independence. Both participated in wasn’t his style to get into a religious do. At his court-martial his position scouting, patrol and bridge blowing discussion. was understood and he was released. missions in the Beit Jiz, Beit Soosin There is a big mystery here. He returned to Brooklyn College, and Al Kabab areas and elsewhere. The focus should be on the recovery but the memory of the European Finally, it should be noted that on of the bodies, and their burial. The survivors was very much with him. He was particularly agitated by the returning to camp at Hulda after each article in Ha’aretz gives different lack of positive action on the part of night’s operation, Jerry and Mandel dates, years apart, not only not the American Government to open would engage in a seemingly endless mentioning they were Americans, but the gates of Palestine. Organized a discussion; the issue: since the sun also not stating how the families were general group to help the Haganah; was just rising when we got back to notified, and not listing where each tried to organize a group of young one was buried. Something’s funny. camp, what do we do first --- clean volunteers within his own organization our rifles or daven shachris? In best The following was received

(“Mizrahi”) to serve in the growing the bodies had been found. However, soldier who had consumed one too war in Israel. Left for Israel March a short while ago, the unit for finding many beers or who tried to sink one 29, 1948, and promptly enlisted in missing soldiers was satisfied that the too many illegal immigrant ships or the Haganah. Killed in the battle for remains of the three soldiers had been was simply a soccer hooligan who Latrun of May 13, 1948, together with buried in three unmarked graves in did not believe that the red headed Jerry Kaplan the day before the State the military ceremony on Har Herzl Jew who had just disembarked from was declared. His body was never in Jerusalem. the Exodus moments before and recovered. 3. The IDF is now apparently in who tried to explain to him that Jerome (Jerry) Kaplan-- Born touch with the three families in order he had no intent of sneaking into in Bayonne, New Jersey. Served as a to have a stone-laying ceremony Israel (sic) but simply wanted to Pharmacist’s Mate in the U. S. Navy for the three soldiers, and Shirley help Jews escape from Europe. He in World War II. After discharge he believes that the ceremony may would return home to the lights of began a course of study preparatory take place some time in September, Los Angeles. to University work. Upon hearing but at this moment in time, the date Bernstein was buried that Israel urgently needed young for the ceremony has not yet been wrapped in the stars and stripes people to assist in its struggle, left fixed. I will try to ensure that there in the Haifa military cemetery, 22 his studies and volunteered through will be a Machal representation at the at his death, and now his name is a Haganah channel. Sailed from New ceremony. recalled emotionally by old men York March 29, 1948, with Mandel 4. We will arrange to have in berets filled with fifty years of Math and other volunteers, arriving in the asterisk signifying “Missing in dust and moth holes who have been Haifa April 14. From there made his Action” removed from the Names of way to Tel Aviv and Haganah military the Fallen on the Machal Memorial. coming to West Point for 39 years to service. Fell, with Mandel Math, in 4. As the story unfolds, I’ll keep stand at attention and to sing, with the battle for Latrun of May 13, the you posted. honest emotion, the anthem, first day before proclamation of the State. 5. I’m very pleased that you the American and then the Israeli, His body was never recovered. brought the story to my attention, which they call hatiqveh. as I was completely unaware of this The first American Jew killed MACHALNIKS MANDEL MATH dramatic identification of the bodies. in the war in Iraq was named David Bernstein. He was killed in Taze in AND JEROME KAPLAN Iraq after grenades were rained on (MISSING-IN-ACTION) Warmest regards and best wishes. Sincerely, his Jeep and blew him to pieces. 1. (a) After writing to you Smoky Simon The pieces were wrapped in an American flag and flown to his home on 23rd August, I received a phone WESTPOINT continued from pg. 1 call at home in the evening from Arieh in Pennsylvania and from there they O’Sullivan, one of the Jerusalem were sent to the Academy at West Post’s military correspondents. Arieh Point, on the borders of which we has been very supportive of Machal now stand along with Bob “Rafi” over the years. Marom who fought in Israel in 1973 (b) Arieh had heard about and Paul Kaye who ran away from the identification of the three bodies, home in 1947 to establish the fleet. and he gave me the phone number of This is Another Time Mendel’s sister, Shirley Stolpner, who West Point, May 2005, reading the names of lives in Jerusalem, and Shirley told the fallen. L-R Samuel Klausner, Paul Kaye, Of course it may or may not me the story. Marcel Berkowitz, Marvin Libow. Photo by be likely that in another fifty years 2. Math’s family had been Boaz Gaon they will stand at attention at the notified by the IDF that Math and two grave of David Bernstein just as at The first Jewish American comrades-in-arms - Jerome (Yehuda) the grave of Bill Bernstein (sic), old killed in our War of Independence Kaplan and Shlomo Barber - went men covered with dust who awaken was Bill Bernstein. He was, de facto, missing-in-action in May 1948. feelings of honor and who will blow taken out to be executed by a British During the years there was no news that bugles, wave flags and become

emotional, just as in public relations by the name of Amir Ofek, formerly corner of such and such a street and ceremonies. After that they will our representative in Georgia and such and such Avenue (He thought close with a muttering of kadish in who is not interested in Madonna it was a friend of his sister’s). a heavy Brooklyn accent that will and even less interested in Judy, in Kaye had recently tossed away his be swallowed up by a glorious and Steve or in the Ambassador’s wife. seafarer’s cap after he heard that deep blast of a horn. In brief: Why is it that young World War II had ended and that But, somehow, this doesn’t American Jews from the center of Hitler turned from a person to a seem likely and almost impossible the political map, grandchildren of historical personage. He said to and even a bit sad that the place of the men and women Bill Bernsteins, himself, “Why not?” and went to the victims, which history recalls, are more concerned with Iraq or the the rendezvous point. as in the case of Bill Bernstein, West Bank than with Israel. This is There several Haganah men are replaced by the victims of the question with which I arrived at said to him that if he wants to “help bureaucracy which history has West Point in Bob Marom’s silver the Jewish people,” rather than just already forgotten, as in the case of Passat. He left home to fight in Suez himself and Truman, he should go David Bernstein. Of those selected while Paul Kaye, who sat in the to Baltimore and get on the ship randomly by some military computer back seat, left home to establish the Hatikva which was readying to sail only God knows who will take more Israel fleet. for Palestine. Kaye was captured of an interest in their height and Marom arrived in Israel and interned in a British camp in weight than in their strivings for the in 1971 and was trained to drive Cyprus and then in Athlit. Its crew future. In order to dispel any doubt, a Sherman tank despite the fact blew up the ship on which he arrived there is no place in their eulogies, that the IDF preferred, as he said so that it could not return. Finally, empathically sketched in places in Hebrew, to “throw him into the he assisted several thousand people sponsored by the Pentagon. It was Artillery.” Everything was relaxed from Europe to get into Palestine, never written in David Bernstein’s and proceeded on apparently which became “Israel” at about the bar mitzvah speech that he longed calm waters. The underground same time that Kaye shifted from for a democratic Iraq. movements had not yet begun to the Haganah to the fleet. He called What turns everything into bubble up and Israelis flowed to the the founder of the fleet, Yochai bin seven times as sad is the fact that Gaza market to buy authentic water Nun, “Yochy.” The fleet was, at that the yearly memorial to Colonel pipes. Two years later Marom took time, based in Athlit. ”Kaye’s son “Mickey” Marcus, who was born up the pen to write news for the will always remember Athlit as the in New York and arrived in Israel Jerusalem Post. The IDF sent him by site of his Bar Mitzvah. in 1948 to help in the War of bus to El Arish and then to Refidim Kaye’s and Marom’s Independence until he was killed on and from there to the base at Tasa children do not live in Israel. His the Jerusalem hills. He is the only not far from the banks of Suez. At grandchildren also do not live there. graduate of West Point buried here Tasa Marom lost his good friend When asked about this he suddenly who was killed for the blue-white Ilan Chersky who had arrived a few becomes excited about the beauty of flag and not for the red, white and weeks earlier from Beverly Hills. the New Jersey’s woods, so it seems. blue. There were only some tens of The night before Marom was lying Marom said, “Among many young people present while at the funerals in his military bunk and praying American Jews the idea of Israel is of American Jews who still come to to God that he would not be killed foggy, associated with things they Israel to fight, that is, those who live and if he were to be killed it should learned in Hebrew school. They on two sides of the road connecting not be on the next day which was do not even travel to Israel to visit. Beth El to Alon Moreh. Those are his birthday. God agreed and left Most Americans who come to Israel well-attended events, crowded, Marom in his bed but took his good are Evangelical Christians.” sweaty in which the chances of friend Chersky. Kaye said, “Look to the meeting the Minister of Defense is Kaye arrived in Palestine right. This is one of the most greater than that of meeting the Vice in 1947 following an anonymous beautiful roads in the eastern United Consul for Public Relations, an telephone caller who asked him to States…There is even a scouting excellent and talented young man wait at noon the next day on the camp here.”

Marom commented, “I think wears a black hat of a veteran of the of autobiographical materials he it is connected with the expense of Second World War. What it is not had prepared the evening before a trip to Israel…also the fact that necessary for him to say is that he in preparation for his taking part Americans are afraid they might be can speak without the permission in the Colonel “Mickey” Marcus blown up in Israel. After all, there of his wife Jackie sitting to his left memorial. This would be a change, is the State Department warning and quaffing a sandwich the size of since the Israeli press concentrates against traveling to Israel.”” Austria and then an apple the size of on more burning matters such as Kaye broke in, “That was Poland. what did Judy say to Laren concerns another time. The world was not as In 1948 Ben David was a a correspondent serving in the Israel small as it is today and the Arabs did student at the Hebrew University Defense Forces. not fill the news with anti-Semitism. on Mount Scopus and subsequently I asked H.B. about the picture Also, remember that we were trained was sent to fight in the Negev. He of Gaza which he had shown me. by the American military. But my completed his Israel career as a In it he is photographed beaming son, who had his bar mitzvah in the gardener in the Biblical Zoo in happiness along with a soldier who fleet base in Israel, was frightened Jerusalem. Perhaps out of prophetic appears so stunned that he seemed when I said I intended to visit Israel. sensitivity to what was about to made of cardboard (not him). He He said to me, “Abba, I will buy occur (turning all of Israel into a said he belongs to an organization you a first class ticket if you would biblical zoo) he might be projecting called Americans for a Safe Israel delay your trip for several months the reticence of American Jewish that opposes the withdrawal from until things are quieter.” I replied, youth towards Israel. After a useful Gaza because it is a part of Israel “OK, save your money.” pause, he used the Hebrew idiom despite what those Arab bastards The forest through which “he feared for his ass.” with towels on their head say. All this we traveled to West Point rustled. All this contrasted with the is because of the “idiot Barak who The waters of the Hudson sparkled southern gentleman H. B. Shugar retreated from Lebanon and gave like grains of sugar and the interior who was born in Turnboro, North them ideas.” I asked him whether of the Passat filled with the silence Carolina and knew nothing about his children are living in Israel and of the tires that hovered over the Palestine, or about Jews, or about the when they expect to go to serve in asphalt. Haganah until World War II ended Gaza, the very area inseparable from “Look to the right,” said (He was stationed in Greenland, one Israel and populated temporarily by Marom, “the road passes close to the of the few naval offcers present at the wearers of towels? He replied water exactly as in Rosh Haniqra.” the dropping of the atomic bomb on that his children have no such plans “That’s beautiful,” said Paul Bikini Island before the real thing and, besides, his son has established Kaye,” Really magnificent. It would vaporized Nagasaki and Hiroshima,) a company dealing with solar be worthwhile coming back with the and like Paul Kaye he hungered for energy, and some of the customers children.” adventure and for idealism. are Israelis. A few months later the A Mortar Impresses Ben David Haganah entrusted him with three Monash, Kaplan, Klein of its mortars. They were too heavy Ya’qov Ben David sits in to move from place to place. Shugar We are standing in front of the the dining room of the Jewish Cadet would take a taxi each time his bright beige tombstone of “Mickey” Chapel at West Point. On the wall, position was moved.. Like Kaye, Marcus, which is alongside the near the entrance to the Chapel, Shugar was attached to the Israeli dark beige tombstone of his wife, are two announcements side by navy after thé Haganah demobilized Emma. Five veterans and a rabbi are side. One is an optimistic story of and he was sent to serve as a gunnery holding the blue banner inscribed a Jewish cadet who won a fencing officer on the ship “Eilat.” American Veterans of Israel. The contest and the other the tragic Shugar, age 82, drove alone official representative of Israel is no report of Jewish officers who died from Albany to West Point that longer there. Several children are in Korea, Vietnam and Iraq. Ya’qov morning in his beige Chevrolet. pulling on their mother’s blouse, On the dashboard he had a pile

a wife of one of the four Shapiro Memorial Service at the Cadet The one who remembers shapes the Brothers who had earlier sung the Chapel memory of reality. These events of anthems in harmony. The children the life of one gone are chosen, dot- were impatient to return home, nu? AVI held its annual “Mickey ed on, lionized, cherished, appreci- Meanwhile, Paul Kaye, wearing a Marcus” memorial service at ated, even chided and denounced navy beret from 1948, called out the West Point Jewish Chapel but, most importantly, mourned by the numbers, which had earlier been on Sunday May 15, 2005. The the one who survives and remem- divided among the veterans so that ceremony memorialized Colonel bers. What is valued about the de- the names of the American Jews Marcus among the forty volunteers ceased is that which bears mean- (sic, not all were Jews) killed in who gave their lives in Israel’s ing for the life of the survivor. That the War of Independence would be War of Independence. The service which is valued by the community is equally divided among them. was conducted in the presence of that which is portentous, bearing a “Number two,”Kaye called. Consul Amir Ofek, representing future promise and hope, sometimes “William Gerson,” answered the State of Israel, AVI members, a fear, for the community. We strive the leftmost veteran, “Glenn Ernest family and guests. Representatives to recognize the heroic and the self- King, Harold Monash, Jerome of the USMA Corps of Cadets were less sacrifice of one who once lived with us. Kaplan, Mandel Math.” present as well as a special group We recall our conflict and Kaye: “Number three.” of Young Judaea members led by our love for the now hidden soul “Moshe Geberer, George David Rosen, Area Supervisor of and try to draw a lesson for our own F “Buzz” Beurling, Moses Aaron the organization. Highlights of the lives. The way we apply that lesson Rosenbaum, Baruch Linsky, Jacob event included the lighting of three memorial candles by USMA cadets will live in the memories of our sur- Klein.” vivors-and so on and on. Kaye: “Number four.” in memory of Col. Marcus, all the Fallen and a special candle for Lt. The names of AVI veterans Harvey Cohen”, Edward who died during the past year were Lugech, Irving Sevin,…” David Bernstein respectively. Lt. David Bernstein was a graduate of read. Kaye: “Number five.” the USMA class of 2001 who fell “Lewis Ball, William Rose Agriss Haganah, Defense of in Iraq on October 18, 2003 while Edmondson, Robert Lester Vickman, Jerusalem leading a patrol North of Baghdad. Reuben Schiff, Joseph Kahn.” Stanley Behr Irgun Zvai Leumi Cadet Mathew Moosey recited the Kaye: “Number six.” ‘The Machal’, a poem written by Victor Chaber, Israel Air Force “Sidney Rubinoff, Spencer eleven year old Zach Ben-Amots Sol Freeman, 72nd Battalion- 7th Andrew Boyd, Edward Leonard from Colorado as a tribute to the Brigade Troyen, Sidney Leisure, Stanley Volunteers. (See the account written Harlow Geberer Prisoner of War, Andrews.” by the cadets in the AVI Newsletter, Lebanon The list was long, almost as Spring 2005.) Murray Kaplan, Israel Air Force long as that read earlier in the chapel. Following a rousing wel- The list of mitnadvei hutz-la’aretz come by AVI President, Ira Fein- Eddy Kaplansky, Israel Air Force from 1948 who went to their eternal berg, Major Carlos Huerta, USMA Kalman Michaeli Crew, Haim rest in the past year “may their Chaplain and Rabbi Doniel Kramer, Arlozoroff souls rest in peace,” said Kaye, and the VA area Chaplain, conducted Dov Mills Crew, Exodus, Paduca everyone answered “Amen” and for the Chapel service. The names of Jacques Sade, Army Security a moment even the cynicism of the the members lost in the year were (Sherut Bitachon) journalist, feeling a deep distress in remembered by Naomi Kantey and Boris Senior, Israel Air Force the pit of the stomach, evaporated Arthur Bernstein preceded by Sam in the face of an undertaking born Klausner’s “Contemplations on the Eleanora Stratham, Israel Air Force Intelligence in naiveté, stained with rifle oil, and Meaning of Memory.” where is it today. There is reality and there Al Wank, Israel Navy, Palmach is memory of reality. The historian Irving Weingarten Crew, and the biographer attest reality. Arlozoroff, Pan Crescent, Pan York

There were special eulogies actively in perpetuating the sense of everyone agreed with his military to Ezer Weizman, the erstwhile remembrance and history this me- concepts or considered his President of the State of Israel, who morial evokes. contribution crucial to the winning served with the Machalniks in the For many years the West of the war, but all were in awe of Air Force and remained a steadfast Point gathering was organized as a his unique personal qualities: his friend of the Volunteers throughout local event attended by AVI members quick grasp of situations, ability to his life and to Eddy Kaplansky, a residing in contiguous states. A reduce the most complex concepts distinguished Machal member who concerted effort is now being made to the simplest terms, phenomenal dedicated many years to document to broaden the attendance. Other memory, his outstanding bravery, the Machal story. AVI regions as well as Canada are humanity and integrity. Ultimately, Members of the Rockland participating to a larger extent in he found his way into their hearts, Orange District carried the colors spite of the extensive travel. proved his military professionalism and the Shapiro Family Choir sang and laid the basis for important inspirational cantorial and Israeli Si Spiegelman changes in the army. Above all, musical renditions. he was like a shot in the arm, Following the chapel COL. DAVID “MICKEY” injecting confidence and optimism, ceremony, wreaths were laid at strengthening in each man he met MARCUS: A Eulogy the graves of Mickey and Emma faith in their special abilities. Marcus and the names of the forty On the first anniversary of the From the outset, he fallen were called out by AVI tragic death of Col. Marcus, Israeli recognized the remarkable human members. The recitation of Psalms Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion material in the partisan army, and and Ke’l Maleh Rachamim followed instructed the IDF Publications truly believed they had the makings Zipporah Porath’s “Tribute to Col. Department to gather information of the best soldiers in the world. David Marcus” (See below.) read from those who had known Mickey, Today, when Israel’s army IS one of by Joseph Warner, AVI-Canada, at or served with him, while their the best in the world, his convictions the graveside. The USMA cadets memories and impressions were still proved prophetic. then concluded the ceremony with fresh. B.G. had in mind publicizing Mickey Marcus personified the Salute by the ceremonial rifle Mickey’s heroic role in Israel’s the compelling spirit that motivated squad and the bugler’s sounding War of Independence for American Machal volunteers to rally to the of Taps. After the discharge of the youth, and I was the lucky soldier defense of the fledgling state. His colors, AVI members lingered to assigned to this task. The Mickey heroism, and theirs, without doubt, greet comrades-in-arms and old Marcus who emerged from those was in the selfless act of volunteering friends. Many met for a meal and interviews was a fascinating and when they were most needed. time together in a local eatery. complex man. What had been a military This year’s event was Mickey Marcus or Mickey mission for Mickey, became a marked by a more visible participa- Stone, his nom de guerre , was commitment of the heart. He felt tion of young people. They laid the involved in Israel’s struggle for privileged to be part of our struggle. wreaths at the graveside. The de- survival and independence for a In a letter to his wife he wrote: “I cline in our membership becomes total of only about 200 days. But, doubt if I have ever done anything more evident with each passing during that time his multi-faceted -- anywhere -- any time, that is more year. Though the chapel was filled personality and tremendous vitality worthwhile...” to capacity, fewer of the old faces made a major impact on everyone he were noted in the assembly. Guests, met and whatever he did. Initially, Zipporah Porath instead of AVI members, made up the hierarchy of the Haganah and Read at the graveside by Joe the majority of the participants. Palmach had serious reservations Warner Next year will mark the 40th con- concerning the charming, gregarious secutive year that AVI conducts the OUTSIDER who had volunteered memorial service. Many feel that a to serve as military advisor. Not new generation needs to participate

Letters To The Editor

To the Editor- To the editor-- Citation: 660 refugees Nice piece on the Abril Comment: There were a little over J. Wandres’ story of the ship (see Newsletter Spring 2005, “The 600. Abril shows much documentary re- Mighty Ma’oz” by J. Wandres, p. search which must have required 1+). We crew members preferred Citation: She was converted into a great effort. It is also a very readable to call her the Abril rather than the ferry in the Naples Bay area. account of an almost-forgotten inci- Ben Hecht. Since I was an AB on Comment Not really and error. She dent, and he deserves much credit her, I can make a few minor correc- did the Naples-Capri run. for bringing these details to light. tions for an n article that was clearly However, not only do I have some well researched and a lot of work I did a novel based on her question as to whether the Haganah involved. Following are citations voyage (not really a voyage since “publicly applauded the play and the and comments: she never returned. Technically, purchase of the vessel,” the under- NYC-Marseilles-Haifa would be statement that the ship “sailed from Citation: David Kaplan was radio a series of passages.). The novel is New York on December 26, 1946,” obscures a serious aftermath. officer… titled, What Ship? Where Bound? When the “Ben Hecht” was Comment: There were two. Ed Sty- Knopf, 1961. It would be a miracle to sail, the Irgun prepared a send- rak was there first, but since Dave’s if you found it anywhere. off party on the pier, to which the father was important in the Zionist media, many public personalities, affairs, he was inserted also. All the best to you guys and the public in general were invited. The public relations gain for Citation: Port du Bouc Shepard Rifkin the Irgun by sending the ship was Comment: It is Port de Bouc POB 22048 recognized as invaluable, and there- 61220 Tel Aviv fore every effort was made to pub- Citation: got underway at night licize it. The subsequent party was without a pilot… The book is available in the well-attended, well publicized and a Comment: You’d have to be nuts to libraries of the University of Chica- great success. do that. She left in broad daylight, go and Hebrew Union College and On the other hand, the Jew- the passengers singing Hatikva and may be purchased through Amazon. ish Agency’s aliyah bet activities then she ran aground. A typical Jew- com for $15. in America were extremely secret, ish joke if you ask me. since British Intelligence (probably The editor with the help of the CIA) were de- Citation: Kaplan saying “de mortuis termined to hamper the organiza- nihil nisi bonum.” Response from J. Wandres: tion in any way possible. I do not Comment: He was a spoiled rich say this lightly -- I was in charge kid who simply considered the crew Shepard. I’ve read your book. of laundering the money that came crude shits. He got bopped on the Great retelling of the Abril’s voy- from the Sonnenborn group and oth- nose for that. age. Consider yourself lucky that ers in order to confound the opposi- it wasn’t made into a film starring tion. This was not only to obscure Citation: Port de Bouc—a ship- Paul Newman, Sal Mineo and Eva the recipient of the money, but also yard. Marie Saint. the donors, who were not sure that Comment: It was a tanker port. The such donations were not somehow Abril never moved from her anchor- J. Wandres illegal. age until it was time to board her In addition, we never legally passengers. registered our ships, since this information would have been on the To the editor: “Ma’oz.” Well, maybe not finally. The public record and invaluable to the ship was known to be in service in British. We bribed foreign consuls Today I received the Spring 1998 as the Italian Ferry called “Santa to give us flag papers. This not Edition of the AVI Newsletter, in Maria del Mare.” only kept them off the record, but which an article by J. Wandres about There was no deliberate intent to omit silenced any information that might the Maoz , Ben Hecht K-24 appears references to the other I.N.S. ships that have emanated from the consuls. on page 1,4 and 5. In the story about took part in the raid on the Egyptian Again, I write from personal expe- the sinking of the Egyptian Flag Ship flagship “Emir Farouk,” on October rience, because it was part of my King Farouk during the Israeli War of 22, 1948. The focus of the feature was job to carry and transmit the bribes Independence, Wandres omitted the on the one vessel and its multi-storied (American dollars in unmarked en- presence of 2 more Israeli War ships. history. Each of the vessels that took velopes). During that Naval engagement, there part in Aliyah Bet and/or became the Following the publicity bash of were a total of 4 ships, including Haga- first ships of the Israeli navy have in- the Ben Hecht’s sendoff, our sourc- na K-20, and Wedgwood K-18 beside teresting stories, all well told in the es closed up like a soundproof door. the Maoz K-24 and Noga K-26, and People and firms who had been pro- the Yuchi Boats of Shayetet 13. I think Greenfield –Hochstein book “The viding us with material as gifts, at that it is a disservice to omit the names Jews’ Secret Fleet.” reduced prices, or even in the open of the above 2 ships in that historical For “The Ablest Navigator,” market, refused to deal with us. event of the sinking of the Egyptian my work-in-progress about Paul Shul- Everyone was afraid of some sort Navy Flag Ship “King Farouk.” man, I would still appreciate any rec- of pressure or retribution from the I commend Wandres for his me- ollections AVI/Machal members have American government, and took no ticulous research about Paul Shulman, about that naval action and the role of chances. We couldn’t buy a can of the Shayetet 13 Commandos. Email beans, a blanket, or an anchor. the origin and service of the Maoz, to: [email protected] More important, no foreign from the time she was built in 1931 consul (we had been dealing most- and to her final destination to Naples ly with Latin American countries) Italy as a Ferry Boat with accountings J. Wandres would take a bribe, see me, or even till 1998 of her where about. However, give me an appointment. They were in my opinion he should give us more To the editor-- understandably more frightened off information and acknowledgments by publicity around the Ben Hecht’s regarding the sources of your infor- I just read the Ezer Weizman obituary in the Chicago Sun Times. sailing than anyone else. As a con- mation. Wandres may recall from our He was a very close friend. And we former correspondences and commu- sequence, although we had ships flew together when I was a volun- ready to leave for Europe (where nications that I was there too, present teer pilot in the Israel Air Force, in the Haganah was taking off thou- at that Israeli Navy engagement as an 1948 and 1949. sands of refugees, as compared to Engineering Officer on board the Noga This is how we met. I was sit- the Ben Hecht’s 609) we could get K-26 during which the Egyptian Navy ting in the lounge of the Zion Hotel in no supplies for them, and -- more Flag Ship King Farouk was sunk. Haifa when a tall young man walked important -- no flag papers. Please make reference to this correc- in. He came over to my table and asked This continued for some time, tion of the omitted 2 ships in our next me if I was one of the volunteers. I told and no one can know how many AVI Newsletter Edition. him, “Yes.” He told me his name was thousands of refugees spent unnec- Ezer Weizman, which didn’t mean a essary time in exit camps and ports, David Hanovice thing to me. He ordered two glasses could not be dealt with, or died in of Cherry Heering, which I hate, too the meantime. The situation was fi- sweet. But I didn’t say anything. Wandres replies: nally resolved by the sympathy and He asked me what I thought courage of Sam Zemurray, head of of Israel. I told him I was too busy fly- United Fruit Lines -- but that’s an- First, thanks to Paul Silver- ing and I didn’t see much of it. I told other story. stone for providing pictures of the ship him, “The food over here stinks and known variously as “Argosy,” “Vita” tastes like cardboard. And I’d give David Macarov “Cythera II,” “Abril,” “Ben Hecht” anything for just one of my mother’s and finally, as the I.N.S. ship K-24 potato latkes.”

10 Obituaries YAACOV BEN YISRAEL: when he served aboard the aliyah Operation Eleven Outposts, a major Crew of Hatikvah, Interned ship “Hatikvah”, which he had pre-Independence effort to set up in Cyprus and Athlit, Set up joined in Baltimore, Md. The ship Jewish communities in the arid Ne- brought “illegal” immigrants from gev. When Yaacov’s own group from Communities in the Negev Italy and was stopped by the British. the United States began to reach Is- That led to a period of imprisonment rael, he rejoined it and help to found in Cyprus and then in Athlit. Those Kibbutz Barkai in the Wadi Ara area. dramatic months proved to hold There he married and there his son much meaning for Yaacov’s life and was born. More than ten years later he followed his second wife Rinah to Kibbutz Shuval, where he lived for forty years. Yaacov never revisited his old home in the United States, because he never had a desire to do so, never was homesick. He was an idealistic Yaacov Ben Yisrael, born on kibbutznik, a believer in collective August 3, 1927, died on October 13, featured in many of his stories. living, in kibbutz education. Modesty 2004. Yaacov made aliyah in 1947, He was short and stocky, dili- in material things was his nature. He worked industriously with the sheep, That Saturday I received a call gent, efficient and very responsible. in the cow barn, the orchards and the at base operations. It was Ezer Weiz- Aboard ship he was responsible for man. He invited me to his house in the fresh food products store. When poultry runs, and - when he grew old- Haifa for lunch. I wanted to beg out he reached Israel he changed his orig- er - in the metal working shop. Being of it but I went. When I walked into inal name - Jerome Jacob Woodrow useful and productive was a necessity the hallway of his house, I was over- - to Yaacov ben Yisrael. for him, and when that was no lon- whelmed by the odor of potato latkes. He was born in Pittsburgh, ger possible he lost his taste for life. I knocked on the door and Ezer Weiz- but his family followed work oppor- During the last few years he made man’s mother opened the door. Look- tunities and moved between various pancakes and scrambled eggs in the ing over her shoulder I could see a American cities. His teen age years dining hall for the haverim. large platter on a shining dinner table Yaacov spent mainly in Detroit. He Yaacov always thought for piled high with potato latkes. And sit- himself and said exactly what he ting around the table were a lot of hun- was bitten by the Zionist bug and was a member of Habonim, but later meant; practicality and thriftiness gry volunteer airmen. were his hallmarks, as was emotion- Even though Ezer Weizman switched to Hashomer Hatzair, be- ality, a love of song and love for his was in a different squadron—he was cause he thought that movement more in the 101, and I was in the 69th—we “practical”. He worked on the train- wife, Rinah, four children, Elan, Beni, flew on a lot of combat missions to- ing farm in New Jersey, in order to Itai and Hanan, and twelve grandchil- gether and we became very close prepare himself for a life of work on dren. friends. When the war was over I a kibbutz - the hope of his life. When He died on the day before would visit him in his home in Cae- he was 19 years old, he jumped at the Rosh Hashanah, at the age of sev- saria. opportunity to join a ship that would enty-seven. May his memory be for Rest in peace, my flying bring immigrants to Israel. a blessing. friend. I’ll always have fond memo- After the difficult period of Itai Ben Yisrael ries of you. illegal immigration he met Chaim From JUF News June 2005 Condolences to Myers, who invited him to join Kib- Rinah Ben Yisrael William Lichtman butz Shuval. He participated in that 85320 Kibbutz Shuval Chicago group’s work just before and during Israel

11 William Ralph There follows a eulogy de- model for Christian living. He served Postell: Aircraft Mainte- livered at Grace Lutheran Church in the congregation by working on the nance Technician Grass Valley, CA and then a memori- Board of Stewardship. al by Evelyn Dahms whose husband Bill was received into the Fred served with Bill in Israel. Church Triumphant on Saturday, Au- gust 28, in the year of our Lord two The Eulogy thousand and four. He was a strong and faithful member of the Body of Bill was born September 10, Christ; he will certainly be missed 1923, In Santa Monica, California. and remembered always. He was the son of Philip and Ruth On behalf of the family, thank (Rose) Postell. He was baptized you for your loving support through into the Christian faith in Septem- this trying time. Bill Postell served in the ber 13,1970. at St. Luke Lutheran United States Navy during WWII. Church, Sunnyvale. California. Evelyn Dahm’s Memorial He was recruited as an aircraft tech- Bill affirmed God’s grace nician in Israel during the 1948 war. born in him at his baptism with his Bill and my husband Fred After the war he remained to work in own confession through the Rite of helped keep the rickety, war-weary Bedek Aviation Corporation where planes flying in the frantic airlift he remained until 1955. In his de- Confirmation at St. Luke Lutheran of fighter planes and war materials parture letter on January 30, 1955, Church. Sunnyvale. California on to the infant state of Israel in 1948. A. Ben-Joseph, Chief of Personnel September 13, 1970. And when the IAF needed technical Department, writes, “to express to He worked as a supervi- you our gratitude and thanks for the sor and a Management Specialist help to build an air force, they volun- effort and devotion you have shown at Lockheed for twenty-nine years. teered. to the firm and the position you filled Bill’s interests included fishing and From late 1948 until spring as Chief of the Aircraft Maintenance “the adventure of traveling.” He and 1950, Bill, Fred and I lived and Division. During this period this de- Jan had traveled twice to China and worked at Ekron field (Tel Nof). His partment has constantly grown both Japan. They also visited Europe, technical knowledge helped rebuild in area and operating scope, and Russia. Turkey, India, Egypt and Jor- the aircraft overhaul base. His cheer- you have shown wide professional dan. In 1971 they climbed Mt. Fiji. ful, bouncy good nature brightened knowledge, devotion, loyalty and Bill was also very generous in help- lives through times of privation when success in maintaining a friendly re- ing people. He was a member of the often we had nothing to eat except lationship with the employees.” Nevada County Historical Society. boiled cabbage and potatoes. In March 1961, Bill Postell Friends of the Library and the Ne- Bill roomed down the hall received a letter from Golda Meir in- vada City Travel Club. from us in the same barracks. We viting him to the celebration of the On May 16, 1970. He was prepared meals together, ate togeth- opening of the Haganah House (beit joined to his wife Jan in marriage. er, played cards and read the same eliyahu golomb-beit hahaganah) in His wife, Jan, his daughter Sandra, books. To me he was like a younger Tel Aviv. She writes, “Your contri- survives him. step-sons Michael and brother. bution to this magnificent effort of Robert, and six grandchildren, six We remained friends for over the Jewish people has been acknowl- step-grandchildren and four great half a century and I shall miss him. edged on many occasions. We feel grandchildren. that you should be among those who Bill was an active and faithful Evelyn Dahms celebrate with us on April 6…All of member of Grace Lutheran Church. us who were together in spirit and in He had a wonderful understanding Condolences to force during those fateful years look of the mission of the church, which Janet Postell forward very much to seeing you he faithfully proclaimed through Bellewood Apartment # 331 here.” both word and action. He was a fine 3710 Providence Point Drive SE Janet Postell Issaquak, WA 98029

12 Norman Dlin he served as an armored car driver Immediately after his return Royal Canadian Army Veteran, with the rank of corporal. from Israel in August 1949, he went Served in Tank Corps Of his service, he once said: to work for the Zionist Organization “My personal service was a very of America for three years as director small part of Israel’s war effort, but of the Michigan-Ohio-Indiana- Machal definitely had a major role Kentucky-West Virginia Region. He to play.” He added: “It changed then opened his own travel agency. my whole life. I was a high school He and his wife, Ann, spent many drop-out and from that experience years as travel agency executives, I began a long road towards more until their retirement in 1989. education.” The son of Polish Jewish Just before his death, Norm immigrants, Jules was born in published his memoirs, dealing Philadelphia on January 25, 1919. largely with his experiences in Is- He was deposited in a Jewish rael. He is survived by his wife, orphanage in Philadelphia at the age Deborah, and one son, Douglas. of 5, and lived there until he was Another son, Neal, was killed at 17. He was given the number “62.” the age of 12 when struck by a van In later life, he bought specialized while riding his bicycle. license plates inscribed “JD 62.” In 1966, he wrote a book entitled Ralph Lowenstein “Deeds of Love: A History of the Norman Dlin, 79, who Condolences to Jewish Foster Home and Orphan served as a Canadian volunteer in Deborah Dlin Asylum of Philadelphia - America’s both the 72nd Battalion and the 5705 River Rd. First Jewish Orphanage.” New York: 79th Armored Battalion, died July Shreveport, LA 71105 Vantage, 1996. which described 15 in Shreveport, Louisiana, after a growing up in “the home.” long illness with diabetes. He was In World War II, Jules was buried on July 19 in Edmonton, Al- Jules Doneson a captain and company commander in the 28th Infantry Division in berta, Canada. From Infantry Captain in A native of Edmonton, Norm European Theater of Operations. was born Aug. 18, 1926, the son of the ETO to Infantry Captain in While still in Europe at the end of the Ukrainian Jewish immigrants. He Israel war, he was engaged in an operation had served three years in the Royal to rescue children from a Catholic Canadian Army, prior to volunteer- convent in Cone, France, and insure ing for Israel, rising from private to their passage to Palestine. second lieutenant. This contact with Palestinian Norm held a Ph.D. in Geog- Jews led him to visit Palestine in raphy from the Hebrew University, 1945 and again in 1946. He arrived Jerusalem. Hetaught four years at in Israel as a Machal volunteer in San Francisco State University, then June 1948. He was involved in 18 years at Louisiana State Univer- Operation Hiram, which cleared sity-Shreveport, until his retirement the central and northern Galilee of several years ago. Recently he pub- Jules Doneson, 86, who Syrian, Lebanese, Iraqi and Arab lished Virgin in the Galilee, Author- served as a captain in the 71st Liberation Army forces. Later, house Books, 2005. Battalion of the 7th Brigade, died following his discharge from the He arrived in Israel in June of a stroke in Southfield, Michigan, Israeli army, he spent three months 1948 on the Displaced persons ship on July 31, 2005. He was buried in working in a kibbutz. He said that “Marie Annick” and did not depart Clover Hill Cemetery in Royal Oak, as a child of an orphanage, he was until September 1949. In the 79th, Michigan. used to communal living.

13 When asked what benefit he his daughter and close friends, he the garment district in New York had derived from his experience as served in the Shay (Israeli secret and finally found a career as the a Machal volunteer, he responded: service) during the War, and, as maitre d’ in society restaurants. “Just the satisfaction that I was part befits someone in that line of work, He remarried and eventually of a miracle.” little is really known about what he settled in Plattekill, New York, Jules was preceded in death actually did. He became a member where he raised pedigreed dogs after by his wife, Ann. He is survived of American Veterans of Israel after his retirement. The second marriage coming to live in the United States also ended in divorce. There were by two daughters, Davida Robinson in 1957. no children. and Shira Klein, five grandchildren At one point, he Hebraicized and a sister. the family name of Blumenfeld Charles P. Weiss to Sadeh (field), although, in the Ralph Lowenstein French version, he spelled it Sade Condolences with an accent grave over the “e.” A Armele Doyle Condolences to close friend, Prosper Anselm of the 4131 Bellefontaine St. Mrs. Shira Klein New York suburb of Forest Hills, Houston, TX 77025 700 Avon says the US Embassy in Ankara had Ann Arbor, MI 48104 notified him of the death. Sade had been a lifelong amateur sailor and Isaac Imber: had gone to Turkey to buy and outfit With Sonnenborn, Provider Jacques Sade: a boat that he then would sail to Israel and use as his floating hotel. of Arms for the Haganah and Israeli Intelligence Just three days before his Rescue of DPs death, Sade called Anselm from Marmora to say he had been ill but that he was now recovered and going ahead with his plans to sail to Israel. The Embassy said the cause of death was a sudden heart attack. The two men had met at a Paris railway station when they were both setting out for Israel in June of 1948. Anselm says they lost touch with each other in Israel, until a chance meeting 15 years later, when they found themselves working at the same restaurant. From then on, they We have not been able got together regularly to celebrate to obtain precise information on the holidays. Jacques Sade’s role in Israeli In the years after 1949, Sade intelligence. If anyone has such worked for a while at the Israeli information, please send it to the Embassy in Paris and studied film. Newsletter editor so the obituary He and his wife Marie Therese might be amended divorced a year or so after he Jacques Sade, a veteran of moved to the United States, and Isaac Imber was born on Israel’s War of Independence, died their daughter, Armele went to live August 23, 1907 in New York, earlier this year in Turkey at the age with her maternal grandparents in and died after a short illness on of 76. Tel Aviv-born, his family France. Unable to break into the June 5,2005, the day of the Israel’s moved to Italy and then France in the closed shop of filmmaking in the Independence Day parade in New 1930’s, and he was living in France U.S., Sade held a series of jobs to when he volunteered for Machal in York. provide for his family. He was a His parents were recent the summer of 1948. According to hairdresser, put in several years in

14 immigrants from Poland. His father Imber became progressively more and outstanding work, Isaac Imber worked in the clothing industry and active in the Zionist movement was granted the honorary title of was an active union member, but and the Sonnenborn Institute. This major of the Haganah in 1949. He most of the family lived in Eastern organization recruited Jews from traveled to Israel countless times, Poland, now the Ukraine. Isaac’s all of the United States to help with and was active in supporting many family visited relatives in Eastern the war effort in the Middle East. Israeli institutions. Poland just before the beginning of The Haganah, the secret army of In 1950, Imber was asked to World War One, where as a child, the Jewish community in Palestine, establish the US arm of the Rassco- he came to know, love and play with would send lists of items needed, and Israel Corporation. The company family members there. These early Jewish-American business people constructed houses in Israel, and memories and sentiments were and professionals actively donated with Imber’s help raised significant seminal to his Zionist thoughts and and bought materiel necessary to capital in the US to expedite activities in adult life. fight the war there. The Sonnenborn construction of homes. After leaving When Isaac was only Institute was also instrumental in Rassco, he was active in real estate fourteen he became a responsible establishing arms production and in New York, but by the late 1970’s wage earner for the family, as his factories in Palestine. returned to his other significant father died in the influenza epidemic When the United States War interest, writing poetry. He first of 1918. He worked full time as a Assets Administration placed an published To the Son of Ishmael in delivery boy for a dental products embargo on arms shipments to the 1932; Stones About the Middle Sea, company, and attended evening Middle East, Imber was appointed written in Yiddish and translated high school on the lower east side. the first paid employee of the into English by Imber in 1990, and Later, he studied in evening classes Institute. Arms and materiel were Road to Jerusalem in 200I. Before at City College in New York, smuggled in crates labeled “farm his death, Imber was preparing becoming a Parole Officer for the equipment”. Many times their his fourth volume of poetry, One New York State Prison System. heavy weights cracked and broke Hundred Poems for One Hundred He also became an ardent. Zionist the crates, and Imber had to make Years. in the early nineteen thirties, and long explanations and negotiate He was the oldest, most was the founder of a Zionist group with longshoremen and police to honored and revered member of in New York, called Masada. He allow the shipments to be loaded on the Reconstructionist West End married Rebecca Schmuckler in cargo ships. Synagogue, and regularly active in 1929, and twin daughters, Abigail Imber was also forceful and the services and the congregation. and Michal were born in 1939. His assertive in supporting Holocaust Twin daughters, Michal and Abigail, wife Rebecca was also an active Survivor immigration to the United a grand daughter Nadia Gold, a rabbi Zionist. When she returned from her States and was often seen at docks in Temple Emanu-El in New York, Palestine trips, she lectured to many in New York facilitating entry and his companion Esther Heyman Zionist groups in the United States. of survivors. This activity was survive him. The Zionist goal of especially important as England’s establishing a Jewish state became White Paper limited immigration Esther Heyman his mandate and his world from to Palestine, forcing Holocaust 1942-1949. He was associated with survivors to languish in Displaced Condolences to Rudolf Sonnenborn, a wealthy Persons camps. Esther Heyman businessman and philanthropist, and The most important result 41 W. 83rd St. founder of the Sonnenborn Institute, of his efforts and activities was of New York, NY 10024-5246 and through Sonnenborn associated course, the historic establishment and with Ben Gurion. When the British of the Jewish State of Israel on May Michal Diani mandate was ending at the close 4, 1948. President Truman led the 240 W. 98th St. Apt. 14c of World War Two, the British process of recognition and other New York, NY 10025 were preparing to leave Palestine, nations followed. For his selfless

15 At the end of World War II, having heard of Eric’s skill at cal- ligraphy, the Jewish Joint Distribu- tion Committee enlisted Eric to help save survivors of Dachau, which had become a “displaced persons camp” in which inmates still suffered from overcrowding, malnutrition and disease. Eric was smuggled into Dachau by members of Haganah, disguised as a survivor. His head was shaved, a number written on his forearm and dressed in the tattered clothing of a survivor. While working he was hidden behind a false wall in what had been the Nazi officer’s latrine. The young calligrapher Eric Ray: ligraphy, in 1943, while still a teen- became a forger of transfer docu- Rabbi, Sofer, Created Map ager, he was assigned to work in the ments enabling an estimated 5000 Department for Israel Navy British Admiralty’s map and charts DPs to leave Dachau. Eric rode the The Jewish world and AVI department, gaining experience, last DP truck from Dachau to Mar- have lost a treasure. Eric Ray was which he later used in Israel. seilles and from there, by ship, to known internationally as an author- the new state of Israel. The ship on ity on Jewish art. His work hangs which he arrived was the Altelena, in the Israeli Kenesset, the White which was fired upon off the beach House, in several museums and in at Tel Aviv. Ray swam ashore and shoeless. A shoe store owner, seeing several private collections. a tall young man dripping wet, pro- Born in London, England in vided him with a pair of shoes. 1926, Eric started art school at the In Israel Eric enlisted in the age of 12 on a special dispensation. Israel Defense Forces in which he Having become proficient at cal was commissioned as an officer. In July 1948 he was wounded in action. After recovering in a hospital in Haifa he worked as an officer in kheyl hayam, creating the first map department of the Israeli armed forces. He also participated, under Yigal Yadin, in the battle with the Egyptians for Beer Sheva. Years later he worked with Yadin on an exca- vation in the Galilee. He returned to study archaeology in Los Angeles. He holds a Master’s degree in Art History and a Doctorate based on a dissertation on “The Symbolism in the Arts of Ancient Religion” from London University. His rabbinic ordination is from the batei din of Jerusalem and London. He restored

16 the oldest known European Torah Club CopaHagana at Max Roach recorded “Milestones,” scroll written in Spain in the 1300s and gave birth to Be-Bop. Half way for the Liberal Synagogue in The the Hotel Fourteen around the world the Indian sub- Hague. continent was partitioned into Paki- Eric had been a member of August 1947 was quite a month. stan and India, further eroding the AVI for many years when, in No- crumbling British Empire. Thou- vember 2003, he and Lali attended sands of Jewish refugees on the the Holocaust Survivors Tribute, Haganah Ship Exodus 1947 refused joining other Aliya Betniks and res- a British ultimatum to disembark cuers who were invited. The Tribute at Marseilles, further embarrassing was held in huge tents erected on London’s increasingly belligerent the grounds of the Holocaust Muse- but tenuous ability to keep Holo- um to accommodate the many sur- caust survivors from Eretz Israel. vivors and their children and grand- In New York City a group children. It is related that Eric asked of well-connected Jewish business- a man whether he was a survivor of men gathered at the McAlpin hotel Dachau and learned that he was one for the regular meeting of the Son- of the survivors for whom a forger neborn Institute. It’s nominal leader, had supplied papers so that he could financier Rudolph Sonneborn, was leave the camp. “Hello,” said Eric, utterly dedicated to the cause of a Ï am your forger. An unforgettable Jewish Homeland in Palestine. moment for an unforgettable friend The so-called “institute” had and comrade. been convened at the request of Da- With great sadness we report vid Ben Gurion to be the principal the death of Eric Ray on Friday July conduit through which American 8, 2005. Our heartfelt condolences Jewish interests could contribute to his wife, Lali, their children and large sums of “Stephens” (a then- grandchildren. UFOs were “sighted” over popular Haganah slang for dollars, Saranac Lake, New York. The Pales- named after Rabbi Stephen Wise), Naomi Kantey tine Resistance Committee formed and weapons for the Haganah’s Pal- a basketball team to play teams mach strike forces that was girding Condolences to from the Borscht Belt resorts in the for an Arab invasion once the Brit- Natalie Ray Catskill Mountains, to raise mon- ish quit their mandatory control over 4 Margot Pl. ey for and awareness of the Irgun. Palestine. Great Neck, NY 11023 Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and

Victor Chaber: Air Force ground radio operator

The AVI Newsletter Winter 2003 carried an obituary for Victor Chaber who had died on April 4, 2002. An editorial comment below the obituary lamented that we knew so little about Victor. He had completed a questionnaire for the Machal Archives and we relied on that. Now, we have a note from Brenda S. Kaldenbach-Holtz in the Netherlands. Brenda’s father was a friend of Victor’s and she has fond memories of him. We learn from her that Victor’s wife Gertie predeceased him as did his two daughters, Faye and Joanne. Those seeking more information may e-mail Brenda at [email protected]

The Editor

17 As the well-fed gentlemen British Intelligence as well. Indeed, didn’t last long, and was succeeded served themselves from the buffet Haganah units were spread out all by Teddy Kollek, who arrived in “Rudy” Sonneborn introduced their over the city disguised behind bland October, in time to witness the U.N. speaker, Shaul Ben Zvi. Though corporate names. The Mossad oper- vote -- on November 29, 1947 -- to with a Hebrew name, his English ated from an office on lower Broad- partition Palestine into Arab and had a familiar New York cadence way in the Wall Street area, possibly Jewish sectors. to it. The Sonneborn group was ac- from space at the law firm of Hayes, Paul Shulman, too, moved customed to fielding requests for all Podell and Shulman – Paul’s late fa- on to bigger projects: He had been manner of military equipment. But ther. named President of the Mossad- they were non-plussed when Ben- Hotel Fourteen had been backed dummy company, “FB Zvi all but handed them a shopping built in 1902 as a refuge for coupon- Shipping,” which had purchased list for the navy that he believed Is- clipping widows of Captains of In- two former banana-carrying ships, rael would need to defend its coast. dustry; by the 1940s it had become which the Mossad planned to use Ben Zvi, of course, was the name a popular pied à terre for up-and- in the largest-ever clandestine im- taken by Paul Shulman, the ex-na- coming couples in town for the up- migration sealift to be undertaken: val officer and Annapolis graduate coming social season. At any rate, 15,000 Romanian refugees would whom Ben Gurion planned to use to Ben-Zvi/Shulman may have been attempt to reach Palestine on the help establish Israel’s navy, as soon dismayed to learn that in the base- Pan Crescent and Pan York. as there was an Israel. ment of Hotel Fourteen, at 14 East Shulman, having resigned 60th Street just off Fifth Avenue, FOR FURTHER READING: The from the navy, had been released was the Club Copacabana, café so- Pledge by Leonard Slater, Simon from active duty only six months ciety’s favorite late night watering & Shuster; For Jerusalem by Teddy before. The Mossad Le Aliyah Bet’s spot. The Haganah felt the club pro- Kollek, Random House; Ben Gu- Ze’ev Schind, who was in charge of vided the perfect cover for its covert rion: Prophet of Fire by Dan Kurz- acquiring vessels for the clandestine operations, and dubbed its offices man, Simon and Shuster. immigration program, had brought “Club CopaHaganah.” him on board. Ben Gurion had likely Five months before the Nazi J. Wandres, the author of this ar- told “Danny” (Schind’s code name) surrender that ended World War II ticle, is writing a book about Paul of Shulman’s experience as a naval – in Europe, at least – in January Shulman. He welcomes recollec- engineer, and said that he could be 1945 the Haganah had sent Yaacov tions and anecdotes about Haganah useful in assessing the seaworthi- Dori (né Jacob Dostrovsky) to New and Mossad leaders and their op- ness of vessels the Mossad would York to open up a headquarters. Of- erations in the United States. Send need to purchase and convert into fice space was hard to find, and ex- E-mail to: [email protected]. refugee ships. pensive; the unassuming hotel on a Copyright 2005, J. Wandres Whatever the Sonneborn quiet side street was a perfect loca- men thought about the self-assured, tion. Dori operated out of a second almost brash 25-year old ex-naval floor suite. As Haganah’s operations officer, they dutifully sent him to expanded its need for space grew, Stanley Medicks Re- see Shlomo Shamir (né Rabino- and Dori later rented a top floor calls the History of vitch) over at Hotel Fourteen. apartment where he and Haganah Shulman knew that, as in operatives could hold quiet meet- the Israel Parachute any well-run underground organi- ings undisturbed, and where Ben zation, Haganah’s functions and Gurion and others could stay during Forces offices were isolated from each their frequent visits to the United other so as to reduce compromising States. Dori was recalled to Pales- Upon arrival in Israel in the entire operation; they assumed tine and moved on to become the 1948, early in the year, I was as- that their phone lines were tapped Chief of Staff of the Palmach. Shlo- signed to the air force with Ezer and operatives were shadowed by mo Shamir, formerly a major in the Weizman as my commanding offi- Hoover’s G-men and, probably, British Army, followed him. Shamir cer I had come out with enthusiastic

18 ideas of forming a force similar to Chaim Lascov’s authority’, to cre- the British S.A.S of which I had been ate a basic training school. Lascov Hispanic Machal a member on several operations dur- was In charge of training for the re- Request for Information ing the Hitler war. We had many ex organized army at that time. One of members of the Jewish Brigade with my tasks was to disband the old unit Laszlo PATAKY (b. Hungary, 1917, died Miami, 1997) commanded a experience of S.A.S operations. We and I sent some of the men away on unit of Spanish-speaking Mahal had many meetings at GHQ on the a basic instructor’s course to rejoin volunteers in Israel in 1948-49. He possible ways to organize and create me later. Meanwhile I had to find was a close friend of Leo Heaps, and a parachute force. Most of the ideas and build a training camp and even- might have known Dunkelman & were unrealistic with the means tually I was given a part of the Tel Marcus. He had been in the (Free) French Foreign Legion (like Shaltiel) available to the Israeli State at that Nof camp, which was of course part serving in North Africa and the time. Most of the planners had no of the Air Force. Eva was a nurse Mideast, especially at Bir Hakeim, experience of the training necessary with the original unit and joined me (wrote memoir, Los Duros…Legion for such a force and although some as a civilian secretary /translator at extranjera, 1959) , soldiered with had experience of parachute opera- the newly organized school. Char- British, Nicaraguan and Salvadorean forces. I have limited information tions they were not instructors. My lie Borzt and an American Avaram on Col. PATAKY to share, but would last effort 1n July ‘48 was to put for- Erlich among others joined me and I appreciate any information on his ward a plan for a very small force, had Karl Kahana, a very experienced unit (its strength, battle honors, a platoon to be formed from experi- S.A.S. type as my chief instructor. deployment, etc.). Please contact enced men for immediate use in the We started in a very elementary way aardvark_@sympatico,ca. Thank you. Allan E. Levine, Ottawa, conflict. No permission was given building the equipment we needed CANADA. and in order to help in a more prac- from old scrap and using old para- tical way I went to the 7th Brigade chutes, which were obtained, from then forming at Nesher near Haifa. Millets stores as ex-world war II I kept in touch with Chaim Lascov surplus. It took us a few months be- WANTED: U.S. during my time in the 7th brigade. fore we had created an instructional A parachute unit of approximately team capable of training parachut- OR CANADIAN company strength. Eventually with ists to an acceptable army standard. WORLD WAR II Yoel Palgi as its C. O., Dan Avril as Ben Gurion came to the end WAR VETS adjutant and Norbert as Intelligence of my first course and presented the Officer. first parachute wings, which had AACI and other Olim associations have been asked by Member of Knes- been won by the first instructors. set Yuri Stern to assist in the upcom- Parachutists. Old ex-WWII Dakotas were avail- ing commemoration of 60 years since able for training. the end of World War II and the defeat of the Nazis. The project is looking They were given a camp There is a history of all the operations carried out during WWII for U.S. or Canadian veterans who on Ahuza. A large Parachute train- served in Europe to tell their stories ing Tower was built there to assist and of the first Israel unit with some for the historical record and/or to in training. An operation was car- mention of the school at Tel Nof. It lecture (in Hebrew) to young people ried out in the Negev and the troops is by A. Lewin-Epstein, sefer hat- during the coming year. In addition, the commemoration committee wants actually fired on one another due sanchanim, (Book of the Parachut- ists). to publish a book of these stories for to faulty training. Some men were teachers and students. killed on parachute training and there was a very chaotic organiza- Stanley Medicks Interested individuals should contact: tion generally with no properly run Immanuel Miller, 03-731-1792 or 050-722-9442 or E-mail: mission@ training. walla.co.il In 1949 Norbert, Dan Avni and some Air Force Officers came to Machanaim and asked me, with

19 DEDICATION continued from page 1 Sunday night, Nov.20. Room rate From The Desk Of The will be $75 per night (all-inclusive, President: Program with “bare bones” continental The highlight of the program breakfast). Full buffet breakfast also The summer is over. It’s will be the opening of the permanent available at extra cost, and many time for us to go back to work and exhibition on Sunday morning in the restaurants are nearby. To reserve make our next event a resounding presence of Israeli and American please call the hotel directly at 1- success (The official opening of our dignitaries. Those arriving on Friday 352 377-4000. The hotel is located Machal Museum in Gainesville at are invited to Shabbat services at on Biven’s Arm Lake just one mile the University Of Southern Florida the Hillel House. A Shabbat eve from the university campus, and 2 November 17,18,19, 2005) The dinner with the University students ½ miles from the Hillel building. response from our membership for will take place at the Hillel House. (Hotel address: 2900 SW 13 Street, the Machal Museum fundraiser has On Saturday evening we plan to Gainesville). been a great success. To all of you have a festive reception followed who have sent in your contributions by a dinner banquet and a keynote Transportation: The Board of Directors and program. Sunday morning will executive staff extend our heartfelt include a buffet brunch followed Delta, US Air, Continental thanks for your generous support. and Northwest serve Gainesville. For those of you who haven’t sent in Less expensive fares are usually your contribution there is still time available by flying to Jacksonville to do so. Get out your checkbook (80 miles from Gainesville) or today and send us whatever you can Orlando (120 miles away). Rental afford. car from these sites advised. For Gaza is behind us. Whatever shuttle from Orlando to Gainesville your political side as to the call in advance Phil Costanzo correctness of the Government of (407) 832-0147. For shuttle from Israel’s action history has been done. by the Museum dedication and a Jacksonville airport to two sites in We cannot roll back the clock. It’s memorial to our Fallen comrades. Gainesville (then pay extra for taxi time to unite and support the Israel The dinner banquet on Saturday to hotel) call in advance Runways we love so much. It’s time to hope will be open to members and their Transportation (800) 578-6929. that this difficult, almost impossible guests only; whereas the Museum Both shuttles charge $35 p.p. action will lead to positive results. inauguration on Sunday morning will It’s time for reconciliation. On be open to the public. AVI members Cost the other hand we mustn’t dream will have an opportunity to visit the that everything is secure. We have Aliyah Bet and Machal Archives as A package that includes sworn enemies (Hamas, Iran, Syria, well as several interesting museums Saturday night reception and Islamic Jihad, Hizbullah) all who in the area. There will be lots of time banquet, Sunday morning brunch seek the destruction of Israel and its for socializing. and registration will cost $80 per dismemberment. For this we must be person, in total. Friday night dinner vigilant and prepared. I look forward Accommodations (optional) will cost an extra $10 to greeting each and everyone of p.p. you in Gainesville where together A block of rooms has been …(Those attending only the Sunday we can celebrate as comrades our reserved at the Paramount Plaza brunch will be charged $20 p.p.) great contribution to Israel’s birth. Hotel Suites and Conference Center Questions? Please bring your friends or family in Gainesville. Participants will be Please direct all questions to Gainesville for this great event. able to reserve rooms for any or all to Ralph Lowenstein at (1-352 392- Shalom, and L’Hitraoht. of the following nights: Friday night, 6525) or Si Spiegelman (1-212 685- Nov. 18, Saturday night, Nov.19, or 8548). Ira Feinberg, President, AVI