So many new, exciting initiatives continue in Israel, challenging any perception that the country may be struggling because of the current war situation.
Among these are the opening of two new significant resources, the New National Library of Israel (which opened just a few days after the atrocities committed on October 7th, 2023) and the Chaim Herzog Museum of the Jewish Soldier in World War II, which had a quieter launch than planned last year, toned down because of the war situation.
Cape Town’s Shelly Korn, an Israeli by birth, recently visited the Museum of the Jewish Soldier, situated halfway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, in an area known as Latrun. Named in honour of Israel’s President Chaim Herzog, the Museum “tells the story of the Jewish fighter in World War II”. The soldiers acknowledged by the Museum fought in armies from various countries and did battle with fighters’ organisations. Herzog himself served as an officer in the British Army during the Second World War – he was born and grew up in Ireland.
During a visit to Israel recently, Shelly was introduced to the museum by her cousin, Ayelet Kafri, the Head of PR and Media for the museum. “It’s a really wonderful museum,” Shelly enthuses, commenting on the fact that its focus highlights the efforts of servicemen and -women whose roles in the defeat of the Nazis and their Fascist allies have not been fully recognised. “The philosophy of the Museum is to contest the stereotype of Jews having gone like sheep to the slaughter during World War II,” Shelley says. “This has been an important message since the worst post-Holocaust massacre of Jews – October 7th, 2023. As a result, over 25 000 people visited the Museum during the first year since it opened.”
According to Shelly, “I was surprised to see the number of national armies that Jews fought for during the War. Some were places I would not have expected to have had Jewish soldiers, like China.” Shelly was fascinated by the story of the female Russian bomber pilot, Captain Polina Gelman, recipient of the Hero of the Soviet Union Medal for her bravery as a flight navigator.
Other interesting stories include that of the leader of the Underground in Algiers, Algeria – José Abulker. The collection also includes information about Jewish partisans, ghetto and camp rebels.
Of particular interest to us are the records relating to Jewish soldiers from South Africa. Shelly highlights the wartime history of, among others, Judge Cecil Margo, who fought with the South African Air Force and later helped establish Israel’s Air Force. In fact, many of the Jews who fought in their national armies settled in Israel, helping to forge the country, and to develop crucial institutions,
such as the IDF.
Another fascinating South African story of wartime service and the power of love is that of Benjamin Hermer and his fiancé Olda Mehr. (A book about their story, The Piano War, written by Graeme Friedman, is available for borrowing from the Jacob Gitlin Library.)
Shelly recommends a visit to the Museum for anyone travelling to Israel. “The displays are interactive,” she says, describing the exhibition areas as “a truly immersive experience. The amazing technology used makes the past very tangible. You feel like you were there in the thick of things”. ●
For more information, visit https://www.jwmww2.org/
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