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Snapshots of the People Behind a Young State

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Snapshots of the People Behind a Young State Snapshots of the People Behind a Young State A Unique Display in Honor of Israel's 70th Anniversary From The Bernard H. and Miriam Oster Visual Documentation Center Beit Hatfutsot, The Museum of the Jewish People Curator: Yaara Litwin | Concept & design: Neta Harel YEARS בית הספר הבינלאומי The Koret ע"ש קורת International School Ministry for Social Equality ללימודי העם היהודי for Jewish Peoplehood - 1 - Celebrating Israel: Snapshots of the People Behind a Young State A Unique Photo Display in Honor of Israel's 70th Anniversary From the collection of The Bernard H. and Miriam Oster Visual Documentation Center Beit Hatfutsot, The Museum of the Jewish People, Tel Aviv This comprehensive exhibit showcases a selection Israel, online and around the world, through innovative of historical moments that embody the great exhibits, cutting edge technology and creative endeavor that was the establishment of the State programs. of Israel, as seen through the eyes of its people. Beit Hatfutsot maintains a digital database boasting Highlighted within are the experiences of Jews from millions of items including family trees, films, and around the world who escaped hatred and fear to much more. The Database helps connect the Jewish live freely in a Jewish state. People to their roots and strengthens their personal Depicted are primarily new citizens who made and collective Jewish identity Aliyah (immigrated to Israel; literally "ascended") The Bernard H. and Miriam Oster Visual Documentation to the young country. Their struggles and triumphs Center is an unparalleled catalogue of photographs and evidence how these immigrants overcame the films documenting Jewish life, heritage and history. challenges of running a new state with few resources. G2G: Generation to Generation, run by Beit Hatfutsot The panels and personal stories on display enable and the Israeli Ministries of Education and Social viewers to explore Israel’s major historical events and Equality, is a unique program connecting generations consider the lives of its early immigrants — what it took via high tech, history and mutual learning. Personal for them to reach the State of Israel and how they stories documented in the program are uploaded to adjusted to life in their new homeland. Organized the Beit Hatfutsot worldwide story collection. The sequentially and by theme, Celebrating Israel gives program connects thousands of students with older viewers insight into the country's formation. adults in Israel and around the Jewish world. Beit Hatfutsot, the Museum of the Jewish People in Visit our databases at dbs.bh.org.il Tel Aviv, is a vital global center dedicated to telling the entire story of the Jewish People on-site, in Visit G2G at Beit Hatfutsot website YEARS בית הספר הבינלאומי The Koret ע"ש קורת International School Ministry for Social Equality ללימודי העם היהודי for Jewish Peoplehood - 2 - Through Locked Gates Illegal Aliyah to Eretz Israel British soldiers on Bat Galim beach anticipating the arrival of ma’apilim (illegal immigrants) from the Haim Arlosoroff Haganah Illegal immigrants on board the "Dov Hoz,” port of La ship, Haifa, Eretz Israel, February 27, 1947 Spezia, Italy, 1946 Photo: L. Duenner, courtesy of Mandy Cotton Courtesy of Uri Vishnitzer The story of Lea Aurbach Born in Pabianice, Poland in 1925, Lea Aurbach lost many members of her family in the Holocaust. She herself — along with her sisters, Sarah and Dvorah — survived numerous concentration camps, including Auschwitz, and a death march. The Aurbach sisters were among a group of 500 women who persevered thanks to the Swedish Red Cross. After liberation, the Jewish community in Norrköping, Sweden embraced the sisters, aiding them until delegates from Eretz Israel arrived to arrange for their immigration. The young women joined a group of illegal immigrants that sailed from Sweden to Israel on January 1, 1947 on the “Haim Arlosoroff.” The British captured the ship, however, and the refugees on board were sent to detention camps on the island of Cyprus. In detention camp no. 66 Lea met and married Jona Belassen, a Tunisian Jew. On April 16, 1948, the newlyweds sailed to Israel. Illegal immigrants on board the "Jewish State", Haifa, Eretz Israel, October 1947 Photo: Martin Hauser, courtesy of Martin Hauser Lea Aurbach and Jona Belassen and in Detention Camp No. 66, Cyprus, 1947, courtesy of Lea Belson Named for a Zionist leader, the Haganah prepared the Haim Arlosoroff to bring illegal immigrants to Eretz Israel. The ship traversed Sweden, France and Italy carrying approximately 1,350 survivors. On February 27, 1947 the British spotted the ship and forcibly rerouted it to Haifa. It ran aground on Bat-Galim beach, directly in front of the British army camp. Following a battle, the British detained the refugees on the island of Cyprus. In April 1946 more than 1,000 Jewish refugees arrived at the La Spezia port to sail on the Dov Hoz. The Italians, thinking they were Fascists and Nazis, held them. The British then blocked their exit. The passengers began a hunger strike that led to international awareness, and eventually the British granted them passage. La Spezia highlights the trials of illegal immigration at the time and is remembered for its international attention and the bravery of the passengers. - 1 - Arrival Making Aliyah European immigrants en route to Israel via Shanghai, Capetown, South Africa, 1949 Aboard the "Galilah," Jews who had been detained in Cyprus arrive at the Haifa port, Haifa, Israel, 1949 Courtesy of Yael Bilu The story of Miko Levy I was born in Bulgaria in 1939, a single, spoiled child. But I soon Iearned to appreciate small luxuries such as toys and food. After the war, my Zionist father decided we would immigrate to the new Jewish state. We packed up what little we had and headed to the Miko Levy with his mother port of Burgas. After a week of sailing, on May 15, 1949, we arrived at the port of Haifa. It was Shabbat, and we were not allowed to dock until Saturday evening. When the Bulgarian Jews in Haifa heard that a ship had arrived from Bulgaria, they surrounded us with small boats and brought food, sweets and challah. I still remember watching that bread crumble and float in the water. We were taken to an immigrant camp in a small town where each family received a tent. I will never forget our first night, surrounded by the sounds of jackals. New immigrant disembarking at the New immigrants on the deck of a ship Haifa port with her baby, Haifa, entering Haifa port, 1950s Israel, c. 1949-1950 Photo: Herbert Sonnenfeld Photo: Herbert Sonnenfeld Sonnenfeld Collection Sonnenfeld Collection During WWII Shanghai opened its gates to Jewish refugees. In addition to the small, extant Jewish community already living in the city, Shanghai absorbed more than 30,000 German and Austrian Jews. These immigrants arrived by way of Japan and the Trans- Siberian Railway, bringing science and technology with them. After the establishment of state of Israel, The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (a Jewish relief organization) arranged for several passenger ships to transport these Jewish refugees to Israel. Because Egypt refused to allow passenger ships carrying new Jewish immigrants to pass through the Suez Canal, their journey lasted two months, traversing South Africa, Italy and France. - 5 - Under One Flag Two Stripes, One Star of David Children with the national flag, Beer-Sheva, Israel, 1950s Kibbutz children during Shavuot festival, Israel, 1950s Photo: Leni Sonnenfeld Photo: Leni Sonnenfeld Sonnenfeld collection Sonnenfeld collection The Emblem of the State of Israel The new State was in need of an official emblem to demonstrate its sovereignty in the community of nations. Much importance was attached to symbolizing the continuity and fulfillment of the Zionist dream. Children with the national flag in The emblem includes three visual elements - the Kibbutz Nezer Sereni, Israel 1950s menorah, the olive branches, and the inscription Photo: Leni Sonnenfeld "Israel". The olive branches express the state's Sonnenfeld collection peaceful intentions; the menorah attests to the link of the Jewish people with its glorious past in the homeland and the return of the state to its former luster (through the metaphor of the restoration of the menorah from the Arch of Titus to its place in Israel), and indirectly, the beginning of the end of the Diaspora. Stall selling Israeli national flags for Independence Day celebration, Israel, 1950s Photo: Leni Sonnenfeld Sonnenfeld collection It took some time for Israel’s temporary government to reach an agreement regarding the Israeli flag. With its Star of David, the World Zionist Organization flag was a known symbol for Jews around the world, both in the diaspora and in the land of Israel. Its two blue stripes were inspired by the stripes of the tallit — the Jewish prayer shawl. Also under consideration was a flag bearing seven gold stars that had been suggested in 1896 by Theodore Herzl, the forefather of modern Zionism. The image of children sitting on hay bales with the flag of Israel flying behind them embodies the idea of the “sabra” – a term for an Israeli-born Jew that comes from the prickly pear fruit of the cactus that is common in Israel. - 6 - Unsteady Homes on Solid Land Life in the Ma'abarot View of a ma'abara (refugee absorption camp), Israel, 1950s Photo: Herbert Sonnenfeld Sonnenfeld Collection Family of new immigrants arriving at a ma'abara (refugee absorption camp)near Haifa, Israel, 1949-1950 Photo: Leni Sonnenfeld Sonnenfeld Collection The Story of Ahuva Zaidman (Goldstein) I was born in 1950 in Poland, the child of Holocaust survivors. My dad lost his first wife and daughter, and my mom was sent from the Łódź Ghetto to Auschwitz. When the two survivors met, they started a new family.
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