Using Video Testimony of Israel's Founding Generation

Toldot Yisrael playlists

Eyewitness 1948 is a five part series (English, 10-15 minutes per film) produced by Toldot Yisrael and the History Channel. Each movie weaves together stories from several Toldot Yisrael interviews to give a behind the scenes account of a specific event or theme. The films were made possible by the generous support of the Jim Joseph Foundation and others.

Eyewitness 1948: The American Contribution is a twenty part short film series (3-4 minutes per film) about the critical, yet little known role American Jews played in Israel’s founding. These films were produced with the support of the Ruderman Family Foundation using interviews made possible through a grant from the William Davidson Foundation.

The Founders: The Story of the 1948 Generation is a a twenty part short film series of 2 minute films (Hebrew with English subtitles) produced with and broadcast on the History Channel in Israel for Yom Ha’Atzmaut a few years ago. Each film shares one poignant story or anecdote from the years leading up to the State being founded.

Jerusalem and the 50th Anniversary of the Six-Day War is a series of brief (1-3 minute, Hebrew with English subtitles) clips prepared by Toldot Yisrael, in cooperation with Yad . Biographical information of the interviewees included in the series and a brief glossary of terms is available here.

From Remembrance to Independence: Behind the Scenes of Israel’s Founding Sample Yom HaZikaron-Yom Ha’Atzmaut program

Toldot Yisrael, in cooperation with the Rabbinical Council of America, produced a complete ready-to-use one hour Yom HaZikaron-Yom Ha’Atzmaut program designed for individuals, congregations, and communities to watch together, from home.

The program is built around eyewitness accounts to Israel's founding by Harry Truman, Norman Lamm, Yehuda Avner, and others. In addition, it includes inspiring words from Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, NJ, and a moving El Maleh Rachamim by noted musician Rabbi Shlomo Katz.

A facilitator’s guide with suggestions on how to use the program, as well as technical instructions for further personalizing the program and incorporating other community resources is available here. Program idea / Resources about the Lamed Hey and Gush Etzion

The date for Yom HaZikaron was chosen to commemorate the tragic fall of Kibbutz Kfar Etzion on the 4th of Iyar, May 13th, 1948, the day before Israel’s independence was declared. The powerful pairing of the solemnity of Yom HaZikaron with the joy of Yom Ha’Atzmaut follows a long Jewish tradition. We observe the Fast of Esther before Purim, and the precedes Pesach. The elements of sadness and struggle are thus linked to our triumphs, victories, and celebrations.

The events that led to the fall of Gush Etzion began a few months earlier, in January 1948. 35 young soldiers set out from to bring much-needed supplies to the besieged Etzion Bloc south of the city. They never reached their destination. The soldiers were ambushed en route, and despite fighting valiantly, the entire company was killed.

In his eulogy for them, David Ben Gurion said: "I don't know if there was any company in the Israel Defense Forces or in any army in the world that assembled such splendid manpower, pure bravery, and spiritual abundance as this company, who will forever be known by our people as the "lamed hey" (the thirty-five)…These lions of Israel were a mix of youthful spirit and glory, superior wisdom…and bravery fiercer than death.”

A Bravery Fiercer than Death: The 35 Heroes of Gush Etzion is a 16 minute film that tells the tragic story of the Lamed Hey.

A companion teacher's guide includes background information, discussion questions, and additional resources.

A powerful account from Ruma Falk, the telegraph operator in Jerusalem who received the last broadcast from Gush Etzion before it fell the day before the State was declared.

Moshe Perlstein was a twenty-three-year-old University graduate from Jersey City, , who became the first American to fall in Israel’s War of Independence. More information is available here and in an excerpt from a letter written by Zipporah Porath, an American friend of his, here.

Born in the Old City of Jerusalem, Joshua Stampfer was the scion of illustrious families on both sides. On his father’s side, he was named for his great-grandfather Yehoshua Stampfer, who walked from Hungary to Jerusalem in 1869 at the age of 17 and was one of the original founders of Petach Tikva. His maternal grandfather, Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank, was of Jerusalem for several decades. Rabbi , the Chief Rabbi of Israel and a close friend of Rabbi Frank, served as Stampfer’s sandek at his brit milah. At the age of two, Joshua Stampfer moved with his family to the US. where his father served as a rabbi. In 1947, Joshua Stampfer arrived from the US to study at the Hebrew University and was soon recruited by the Haganah. A last minute decision by his commander saved him from being one of the Lamed Hey, as told here.

Toldot Yisrael is a Jerusalem-based nonprofit dedicated to recording and sharing the firsthand testimonies of the men and women who helped found the State of Israel. 1,300 video interviews (more than 5,000 hours of footage) have been conducted to date and are housed in The National Library of Israel, the official library of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. For more information, follow us on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel, or sign up for our mailing list.

For more than 40 years, The Lookstein Center of Bar-Ilan University has served as a hub for Jewish educators to find community, share best practices, and learn and think together. The Center offers varied professional development opportunities, creates and curates content for the 21st century Jewish studies classroom, and maintains a series of websites with free resources for Jewish educators. Visit www.lookstein.org or email [email protected] for more information.