WINTER 2003 AMERICAN VETERANS OF ISRAEL VOLUNTEERS IN ISRAEL’S WAR OF INDEPENDENCE UNITED STATES & CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS 136 East 39th St., New York, N.Y. 10016 MACHAL VOLUNTEERS FROM CHINA The contingent of volunteers from China, who joined the IDF, and the struggle for state- hood, consisted of two groups totaling 13 men, in their early twenties, who arrived in Israel to- wards the end of 1948. Their story starts far earlier. PAUL KAYE The majority of the Jews in China were ei- ASSUMES THE REINS ther stateless or after the end of WWII received Soviet (USSR) citizenship basically valid for As of Janaury 1, Paul Kaye became staying in China, or for travel to the Soviet Zipporah Porath and President Katzav Union. This differentiated them from most of President of AVI for the year 2003. Paul the Jews living in the Western Diaspora, who served as an officer on the Haganah possessed the citizenship of the country they PRESIDENT KATZAV ship Hatikvah and, along with other dwelt in. Thus it was rather a simple matter for RECEIVES MACHAL members of the crew was detained in Jewish youth from the USA, Europe, South DELEGATION AT Cyprus. Later, with other members of America and South Africa to travel, using nor- mal means of transportation as available in BEIT HANASSI Palyam he participated in the sinking those days, whereas for us in China, it was of the British prison ship Empire Life- nearly impossible to do so in the pre-state A Report by Zipporah Porath guard. period and in the early days of statehood. For the first time ever Israeli school- Paul’s first statement was a call to The Jewish youth in China, and all of the first children will learn first hand about groups of volunteers, were mainly organized Machal thanks to, MACHAL, Overseas solidarity and mutual support among within the Betar (Brit Trumpeldor) Youth move- AVI members. ment, with a few exceptions. Early in 1947, Volunteers in the War of Independence, a Serving with him will be Executive when it became evident that inevitably a mili- booklet in Hebrew just published by the Vice President, Jerry Rosenberg of tary struggle would lead to the formation of a Ministry of Education’s Information Center. Produced in close cooperation Toronto, Vice President, Canada, state, and that International Jewry would be called upon to help their kin in Eretz Israel, two with members of the World Machal Arnold Friedman, Vice President, Is- youngsters from Tianjin, in North China; Harry Committee in Israel, this booklet adds a rael, David Baum of Tel Aviv, Vice Presi- (Arie) Marinsky z”l and Samby (Shmuel) Muller, proud and authentic voice to the his- dent, Public Affairs, Sidney Rabinovich who were an exception to the rule, and held tory of that pivotal period. of New York, Vice President and Trea- valid Polish Passports, decided to attempt to The booklet was presented to Presi- reach Eretz Israel. They left China in Mid ’47 surer, David Gerard of Commack, NY sailing via the Suez Canal to Europe, where dent Moshe Katsav at a reception at Beit and as Chair of the Executive Commit- they joined the Irgun Zvai Leumi (E’tzel) and Hanassi on January 7th . It was a lovely tee. Simon Spiegelman of New York. underwent a number of military and political affair, a small informal gathering of The names of other appointees are training courses in Italy, Germany and Czecho- about 25 Machalnicks, including the Is- found in the National Board listing on slovakia. Both speaking fluent English, they rael Committee and representatives of were able to obtain a visa to “Palestine” from the Ministry of Education. Leslie Marcus page.2. the British Embassy in Rome, this to the amaze- came especially from South Africa. We President Kaye has restructured ment of the Irgun leadership in Europe, and were all very sorry that members of AVI the Board. Following is his charge to sailed to Eretz Israel, arriving in early February and others from abroad couldn’t make the Board with descriptions of the re- 1948. Their joy in reaching Eretz Israel was short it but, as I pointed out in my remarks as sponsibilities of the occupants of lived, following further military training Master of Ceremonies, you were with us each position: courses in the Irgun camp at Shuni (near in spirit. The Board of directors: Consists of Binyamina), and some actual field action in Smoky Simon spoke — he and I pre- 27 members in 2003. Will work with Jaffa, at that time still occupied by Arabs, the 2 sented the Booklet to the President, fol- lowed by Raphael Seroussi (represent- continued on Page 2 continued on Page 10 continued on Page 11 WINTER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER Paul Kaye motion and ‘good and welfare’, includ- continued from Page 1 NATIONAL BOARD ing condolences to bereaved families. the President and Executive Vice President President on specific tasks and issues. PROGRAM VICE PRESIDENTS Paul Kaye A general meeting of the Board will Planning: Machal West connection, Past President be called by the President to discuss presidential successions, future receiv- Eli Bergman and vote on matters changing the ership issue, ‘Friends of AVI’ member- Executive Vice President purpose or membership criteria of the ship. VP backup. Jerry Rosenberg Activities/Events: Recommend ac- Vice President, Canada organization. Arnold Friedman The Executive Committee: will con- tivities and coordinate with the re- Vice President, Israel sist of ten “core” members drawn from gional VPs including proposed Israel David Baum the Board of Directors to deal with solidarity visits and Las Vegas (or other Vice President, Public Affairs day-to day issues through periodic site). Invite Machal West members. Par- Sidney Rabinovich teleconference meetings and special ticipate in US. Birthright Project 718 896 1102 meetings as needed. Other members Global Coordination: Bridge AVI with VP and Treasurer of the Board will participate as re- Machal activities world-wide. David Gerard quired to deal with the issues on the Speaker’s Bureau: Offer and Sched- Chair, Executive Committee ule speaking engagements to major Simon Spiegelman agenda. The Executive Vice President will organizations and community groups. NATIONAL REGIONAL conduct meetings of the Executive Coordinate AVI assistance to anti-defa- Vice Presidents Committee in collaboration with the mation campaign on campus. East: Ira Feinberg Chairman. Assist in running the orga- Newsletter & Internet: Publish quar- South: Irving Meltzer nization, by performing special tasks terly Newsletter (Further exposure to Midwest: Ben H. Steuerman as charged by the President. global Machal). Expand subscriptions West: Mitchell Flint Vice President, Israel : Coordinate is- as warranted. Update AVI website. sues dealing with historical research, Archives: Collect, file and catalogue PROGRAM VICE PRESIDENTS reunions and visits to Israel historical material from members. Planning Vice President, Canada: Deal with all Maintain data base of questionnaire Art Bernstein reponses. Launch fundraiser. Manage Bailey Nieder membership issues and activities in Activities/Events Canada donations and expenses. Develop the Bill Gelberg Vice President, Public Affairs: Deal internet museum. Coordinate with ar- David Hanovice with media announcements and pro- chival initiatives in Israel. Len Shaffron motion of special events to the com- US Museum Relations: Promote and Global Coordination munity. Maintain Israel Consulate coordinate programs and exhibits un- Zippy Porath contacts dertaken by museums in the US rela- Speaker’s Bureau Vice President- Treasury: Maintain tive to Machal and Aliyah Bet. Naomi Kantey financial records. Report treasury sta- Membership/Welfare: Assist regional Newsletter Editor and Webmaster tus to the Executive Committee and VPs in offering contacts and support Samuel Z. Klausner to members, condolences to widows. [email protected] annual financial reports to the mem- Archivist bership. Handle dues bills and arrears. Ralph Lowenstein Chair, Executive Committee: Sched- [email protected] ule the Executive Committee meet- 352 292 3565 ings. Prepare meeting agenda, back- US Museum Relations ground material and minutes. Brief David Gen the President and the Executive Vice Membership/Welfare President. Maintain the AVI data base. Lois Sprinzeles (chair) (Membership records). Sam Alexander Marvin Lebow Nat Nadler REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS(East, Adrian Phillips South, Midwest, West and Canada): Encourage and organize activities and AVI WEBSITE special events in their respective re- www.sas.upenn.edu/~sklausne/aviweb.html gions. Deal with specific issues relative to dues compliance, membership pro- 2 WINTER 2003 - THE AVI NEWSLETTER OBITUARIES years h would still, with the help of his wife, Phyllis, arrive at the B’nai Zion building to light the Hanukka candles for the New York AVI celebration. Follow- ing his wishes, he was interred on the Mount of Ol- Weinstein ives in Jerusalem. in RCN Following service in the Army in World War II, Irving completed a B. S. in accounting at the Uni- versity of Connecticut and upon his return from Is- rael studied at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion receiving his ordination in 1953 along with a Master of Hebrew Letters and, in 1978, Miriam Hessel: an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from HUC- Emmanuel (Wingy) IDF Social Services JIR. In 1993 he received a honorary Doctor of Di- vinity from General Theological Seminary. Weinstein: Irving was widely known as the founder of The Miriam Hessel died on January 10, 2003. Miriam Aliya Betnik, Palmach Fighter, Intelli- had gone to Palestine in early 1948 to be a student Brotherhood Synagogue in Greenwich Village in at the Hebrew University. When Israel declared its 1954. For twenty years he shared the building with gence Operative, Ship’s Captain Independence she joined the women’s army corps, the Rev. Dr. Jesse W. Stitt and his Village Presbyte- serving from June 1948 until May 1949.