Pride in the israeli army
Bob poses next to the "Davidka" in the city of Tzfat.
“Alan don't worry if the Arabs would start they would get a welcome I didn't believe could exist. The Jews could wipe them right off the map”
July 23, 1957
“ The Arabs seem to respect strength.”
August 5, 1957
"Three big cheers for Israel they know how to speak to Arabs in the only language they understand guns and bullets”
August 16, 1957
"During the day I again heard & saw jets roar by. It looked wonderful & reassuring. In the distance one could hear the roar of heavy artillery at a practice range. That also was music to my ears."
July 30, 1957
“Everyone here says next time Syria starts it will be another Sinai.”
July 24, 1957
"Then came the biggest thrill of all, the appearance of the captured Egyptian Destroyer now the Israel Navy Destroyer SS Haifa. She looked great and it felt great to speak to the crew, of whom a few were refugees from Nasser and Egypt. They were all ready to pay Nasser back a few things they owed him for what he did to their families in Egypt..."
August 25, 1957
"Sunday morning I am going for a ride on the captured Egyptian Destroyer, I saw it this afternoon. It is the first time a destroyer had ever been captured in modern times."
August 23, 1957
"I saw the Kibbutz Dagania yesterday & the destroyed Syrian tanks. This was one of the most remarkable feats of Israel’s army in 1948."
August 11, 1957
“Today we toured all of the North of the Galil….. also the scene of some of the hardest fighting in the War of Liberation. It was British and dominated the whole Huleh Valley and was handed by them and the Arabs. We then had to capture it with almost no weapons.”
August 15, 1957
David's Comments
The first Jewish Army
in 2000 years
The destroyed Syrian tank that penetrated Kibbutz Degania in 1948
The captured Egyptian Destroyer
Bob with his grandson Dov 2014, when Dov was serving in the Artillery branch of the IDF.
Destroyed Syrian tank in Kibbutz Degania
“I saw the Kibbutz Dagania yesterday and the destroyed Syrian tanks. This was one of the most remarkable feats of Israel’s army in 1948”
During the 1948 War of Independence, a column of six Syrian tanks reached Kibbutz Degania. The kibbutz members were farmers equipped with mismatched rifles and possessing no armored vehicles. But it was a victory of the weak over the strong. One version of the battle claims that a young man named Shalom Hochbaum hurled a molotav cocktail under the lead Syrian tank, setting it ablaze, repelling the Syrian assault. To this day, the disabled tank sits at the gate of the kibbutz, and is what Bob was referring to in this letter.
The captured Egyptian Destroyer
The Egyptian Warship Ibraham El Awal, was captured by Israel on November 1, 1956 during Israel’s 1956 war with Egypt. The Ibraham El Awal was towed back to Haifa where it was repaired, and later entered the Israel Navy as the I.N.S. Haifa.
The Davidka - Israel's secret weapon
My mother recalls: “When Bob wrote, ‘we had to capture it with almost no weapons’, I think he was referring to the City of Tzafat (Safed) and the “Davidka” weapon which we saw on display there. They explained to us that the Davidka made loud noises and scared the Arab enemy but did not really cause any damage.”
Israeli artillery: "Music to my ears"
The year 1957 was only twelve years after the Holocaust. This is why my father described the sounds of the IDF’s artillery as “music to my ears”. As a youth, during Israel’s pre-state days, my father packed weapons at his cousin Henry’s Storage facility at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. These weapons were delivered to the Jewish underground fighters. To witness his grandson serving in the IDF artillery unit gave him great pride.
1957 vs today
In 1957, Israel was still considered an underdog, and Jews took pride in a strong IDF. Prime Minister Ben Gurion gave a free hand to the IDF to do whatever was necessary in order to fight the Arab enemy.
Today, many “progressive” Jews have guilt feelings about winning, and are more concerned with what the world will say rather than being concerned about protecting the lives of Israeli soldiers and civilians. They enjoy the support of the Israeli Supreme Court.
LINKS:
Story of the Syrian tank in Kibbutz Degania: https://vimeo.com/369879358
The Davidka Story: https://www.safed.co.il/davidka-monument.html