2חלקים מאוחדים י״ש

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Itzhak Shemi, Battalion Commander,
Alexandroni Brigade, 1948

By Dr. Hagar Shemi Zalko, 2012

"He who dreamt and still has his dream,
He who fought will never forget what he fought for…
… He who promised did not lay down his sword,
He who was called up, marched in the forefront!"
- Didi Manusi

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CONTENTS
A. Service notebook
B. Personal and military history, photographs, maps and documents
C. Sources, timeline, acknowledgements, bibliography

(A detailed timeline appears at the end of this text.)

INTRODUCTION
In composing this account, I relied primarily on what Itzhak Shemi said and
wrote, as well as on material accessible to me, as noted in the sources. I did
my best to go back in time and incorporate the events of that period, both
according to my sources and through the perspective of time. In my research I
also relied on my personal association with the events and tried to give
comprehensive explanations.
This document relates mainly to Itzhak Shemi's years in which he served to
protect, defend and secure the Land of Israel and the State of Israel. It also
deals with the Shomron area (the northern plain), where he was active. For
this reason not much attention is paid to other people and places, despite
their great significance during this period of time.
Many people assisted me in my work, but I owe special thanks to the late
Nardo Zalko, a journalist, writer and autodidact. He guided, mentored and
encouraged me and advised me to use lofty words, for, as he rightly said,
even the most elevated words could never adequately describe this
extraordinary period.
- Hagar Shemi Zalko, Paris, April 2013

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ITZHAK SHEMI – SERVICE NOTEBOOK

Born: 1907, Vilna, Lithuania

Made aliya 1932, Land of Israel [name given to pre-state Israel]

[immigrated]

Died: 1987, Israel

Membership: Notrut [Jewish guard brigade in the British police], Hagana [security

branch of the Histadrut, the body responsible for nearly all facets of
Jewish life in the Land of Israel]

Period of 1935-1953
service: Lieutenant colonel
Rank:

Functions: 1935-1947 Jewish guard in British police force during British Mandate

Wars period [1918-1948]
battles:
Civilian 1939 Platoon commander course in Juara
functions:
1942 Enlisted full-time in Hagana by Eliyahu Golomb [chief of

Hagana]

1943-1946 Head of recruitment and training branch for fighters in

central region

1947-1949 Commander of Hadera and Shomron region, battalion

commander with rank of major of Battalion 131 in

Alexandroni Brigade

1953 Commander of Battalion 926 of IDF [Israel Defense

Forces], released from service with rank of lieutenant

colonel

and War of Israeli Independence

1953-1958 Teacher, guide, instructor and educator
1958-1968 Organizational/technical manager of Granot (cooperative

1968-1982 factories of Emek Hefer and Shomron settlements) from its
1980 establishment

Head of safety and health branch of Agricultural Center in
Tel-Aviv

Recipient of annual Work Award for his work in agricultural
sector

[Note: here and elsewhere, remarks and explanations of the translator, not in
the original text, are placed in brackets.]

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SUMMARY OF ITZHAK SHEMI'S SERVICE

Itzhak Blach, who would become Itzhak Shemi, was born in Vilna, the capital
of Lithuania, and made aliya to the Land of Israel in 1932 as a sportsman in
the Maccabiah Games. After participating in the competitions, he stayed on
and joined Kibbutz Ein-Shemer, located on the Shomron border. During the
period known as the Disturbances [bloody clashes between Jews and Arabs
under British rule] he was recruited into the Hagana [Jewish paramilitary
organization]. He served as a guard, securing the Jewish settlements, and
was responsible for the region of the passageway into Wadi-Ara. His nom-de-
guerre was Shai (the initials of his name, Itzhak Shemi, reversed). At the
beginning of World War II, he volunteered to serve in the British army, but was
brought back from service by the Hagana commander, Eliyahu Golomb, due
to his essentialness to the Hagana members in the Land of Israel. He
underwent a course of platoon commanders in underground conditions and
was appointed to be responsible for recruiting and training Hagana volunteers
in the central region (from Petakh-Tikva to Haifa). Shortly before the State of
Israel was declared, he was selected to be responsible for security in the
Hadera and Shomron district; when battles broke out, as the Hagana brigades
were being set up, he was appointed head of Battalion 131, Shomron
(Naphtali) district, Alexandroni Brigade, with the rank of major.

During the time of the struggle for the founding of the State of Israel, he fought
along the Eastern Front line, from Tul-Karem to Megiddo, to protect the center
of the country from the Salvation Army, as it was termed, which came from
Iraq. As commander he was responsible for safe passage along the main
roads – those that led to the north and the valleys – and the Eastern Front line
and seashore zone.

The area was hard to defend; the Salvation Army of Fawzi al-Qawuqji
attempted to bisect the country and cut off Haifa from Tel-Aviv. The number of
fighters, armor, weapons and ammunition were all to the Arabs' advantage,
but thanks to the solidarity of the Jewish population and the motivation of the
warriors, the entire region was purged of the enemy.

The battalion was called upon to assist the Hagana brigades with manpower
and weaponry, and also to take part in a suppressive battle in Mishmar-
haEmek; it sent the youngest of its fighters to battle in Jerusalem; and it
participated in all the battles of the Alexandroni Brigade. On June 20, 1948,
when the weapon-bearing vessel Altalena anchored off Kfar-Vitkin, Itzhak
received an order to surround all the ways south of Hadera. A description of
that day and other details of that year are published here for the first time. The
battalion participated in Operation Policeman to cleanse a portion of the

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coastal road that was under its jurisdiction; shortly before the armistice came
into effect, the battalion took part in Operation Lot which captured Sodom and
Ein-Gedi. Itzhak's people suffered losses in battle, but further losses were
avoided due to his cautious, wise command, under which all of the British
army's installations in the Shomron region were transferred to the Hagana
forces without a fight (the airport, Camp 80, fortified police stations and more).

Upon establishment of the State of Israel, the Alexandroni Brigade joined the
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Battalion 131 became Battalion 926 of the Givati
Brigade; Itzhak Shemi, holding the rank of lieutenant colonel, was demobilized
in 1953.

EARLY LIFE

Itzhak Shemi was born in Vilna into an affluent Jewish family. His father,
Moshe Blach, a learned man of broad horizons, was the owner of a pharmacy
in the city center as well as a factory for manufacturing soap on the city's
outskirts. His mother, Sarah Blach, née Shalyapin, was a graduate of a school
for girls from good families. They lived in a two-story house and were known
both for their philanthropy and for the superior education they gave their five
children.

In the enlightened circles in Vilna, which was considered the "Jerusalem of
Lithuania" in the early 20th century – that is, the most important Jewish center
in Europe – a story was known about a young man, one of the best students,
who was successful in his regular studies, and who was especially interested
in Judaism and in the realms of Hebrew culture, literature and history. This
young person was Itzhak Blach, who would one day become Itzhak Shemi.
He studied as a child in a cheder [children's one-room school for religious
studies], took his first steps in acquiring an education in a Russian school, and
then sought permission to continue his studies in the Hebrew Gymnasium
[high school] that had opened in Vilna. His request was granted and everyone
saw in him a future man of science. In 1920 his grandfather, a rabbi from the
town Druya was invited to his Bar-Mitzvah ceremony. Itzhak gave a sermon,
which he had written himself and learned by heart, in Hebrew, as was
required by observant followers of the Jewish commandments.

Shortly after that ceremony his life took a sharp turn, changing his direction
and determining the course of his life. His eldest brother, David, who played
first violin in the Vilna Philharmonic Orchestra, was killed in a horrendous train
accident. A year later his heartbroken father died, and this event changed the
fortunes of the family, which became impoverished.

The painful loss of his father became part of Itzhak forever after, wrapping him
in a cloak of loneliness which both weakened and strengthened him. From
then on, he lived with the feeling that he had already experienced the very

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worst. Losing his father impressed in him deep devotion and love for his
mother, sisters and remaining brother.

Left: the carriage and coachman of the Blach family
Right: Itzhak in his family home on Strashun Street, Vilna, 1920

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In haShomer haTzair [Young Guard] scouting movement in Vilna; Itzhak
Blach (Shemi) is seated in front row at left, next to Levi Edelson (later
Adiv). They were both scouting guides and both went on to Kibbutz Ein-
Shemer, where they made their home, raised their families and spent
the rest of their lives.
Among the scouts appearing in this photo from the ken ["nest" in
Hebrew; refers to homey, intimate base for movement activities] of
haShomer haTzair, are those who were later to become members of
haShomer haTzair kibbutzim: Kfar Menachem, Amir, Ein haShofet and
others, 1923
SCHOOL, SCOUTING AND LIBRARY WORK
Because he was a favored student who received special treatment from his
instructors, Itzhak continued his studies without payment, under the obligation
of eventually becoming a teacher himself. Until the day he made aliya, he
carried the burden of supporting his family by privately tutoring other pupils. At
the same time, he joined the Scout movement, training himself for a life in
nature. The Scout movement in Vilna, over time, became haShomer haTzair,
encompassing young participants from many socio-economic strata, and
serving as a means of preventing assimilation into the non-Jewish society in
Eastern Europe. Itzhak was captivated by the concept of pioneering and the
ideology of Zionist-Socialism, and immediately began to prepare himself for
hagshama [implementation of the Zionist ideal].

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Within the movement, he made strong social connections which would
accompany him throughout his life. At a young age, he was chosen to be
scout leader, and indeed, many groups of his scouts from Vilna reached the
Land of Israel, to kibbutzim such as Ein-Shemer, Mesilot, Amir, Kfar
Menachem and others. Itzhak, who was the high school students'
representative, and was at that time chosen to be a member of the
movement's leadership in Vilna, was adept at inspiring the youngsters to tak
on assignments and missions. He made a strong impression on them with his
skill in writing and speaking. His ability to speak Hebrew fluently, and without
any trace of a foreign accent, was evident, as was his ability to summarize
thoughts and ideas and to distinguish between main points and minor details.

Upon completing high school, Itzhak went on to study education at a
Teachers' Seminary in Vilna, taught entirely in Hebrew. He continued to tutor
privately as a means to support his family and himself. One of his students
was the administrator of the big library in Vilna, called Disseminators of
Enlightenment, founded by one Baron Ginsburg. This student of his made
Itzhak an irresistible offer: to study librarianship for two years at a university
and at the same time, to begin working as a librarian. He began his university
studies in 1926.

The library, located on Strashun Street, was a two-story building in a large
complex and was the most important cultural center in the Vilna's Jewish
quarter. Open during the day and in the evening, it was a highly popular
place, attracting religious, secular and assimilated Jews, Zionists and non-
Zionists alike. Fifty thousand volumes of Hebraica and Judaica bearing the
fingerprints of generations of readers, as well as an impressive collection of
Hebrew manuscripts, earned the library a worldwide reputation.

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Itzhak (reclining) with six of his young scouts in the ken of haShomer
haTzair in Vilna, 1930

HaShomer haTzair leadership in Vilna. Itzhak stands at left, 1930

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Teachers' Seminary in Vilna. Itzhak stands third from left in back row
The library gate bore the words "Academy of House of Books [i.e., Library] of
Gaon Rabbi Matittiyahu, Son of the Late Shmuel Strashun"; inside, long
tables were lit with reading lamps. Itzhak was given the opportunity to become
head librarian, a prestigious post of great responsibility that required great
knowledge in several languages. Although initially unsure that he would be
selected for the post, he received it during his university studies, earned a
salary that enabled him to support his whole family, and remained at the post
until making aliya in 1932. He would assist readers in searching for books in
their fields of interest. He knew authors' names and books by heart,
remembered their location on the shelves, demonstrated knowledge and
expertise and was devoted to the library. His broad knowledge, energetic
personality and the Zionist principles he adhered to, won him a reputation and
made people say that "any book Itzhak doesn't remember apparently hasn't
been written yet".

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Itzhak at the library entrance in Vilna, 1932
The community establishment supported the library, which held books in
many languages: Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Polish, German, Latin and
English. The library also served as a European center for shipping books to
the newly-founded National Library of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, in
accordance with lists provided by Prof. Hugo Bergman. Here, in the world of
books, Itzhak found for himself a fertile plain in which to nourish his soul and
quench his thirst for more and more knowledge. He and his friends in the
youth movement represented the moderate Haskala [Enlightenment
movement], of those who sought to continue the path of Judaism and improve
upon or repair it, and were generally not viewed as a threat to Jewish values.
No one believed that one day Itzhak would leave his popular job of his own
volition and make aliya to the land of Israel.
Once his older sister had married and her husband took upon himself the
Blach family's livelihood, Itzhak began looking for a way to move to the Land
of Israel. Despite rumors of the great dangers awaiting the Jewish pioneers,
and in view of the small quota of Jews allowed to enter the country, Itzhak, a
talented athlete, exerted himself and succeeded in being accepted as a
sportsman for Lithuania's top Macabee team.
ALIYA
In 1932 the first Maccabiah competitive games [known as the Jewish
Olympics] were held, in the Land of Israel, and Itzhak, as a team athlete, was
given a two-way ticket. After a great many tribulations on the way, on land and
sea, he eventually reached Yaffo port – which was such a shallow port that

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the vessel set anchor at a distance, and the passengers and their luggage
had to be borne to shore on the backs of Arab deckhands and porters.

Passport photo, taken in preparation for Itzhak's aliya, and artistic silhouette
of him from the same period of time
After the end of the Maccabiah competitions, Itzhak remained in the Land of
Israel; he celebrated his 25th birthday with his friends on the kibbutz, where he
met the woman whom he later married and established what was to become
his home for the rest of his life.
In the Land of Israel, a letter awaited him from Prof. Hugo Bergman, who
needed him to come to Jerusalem in order to ease the burden at the National
Library, which was desperate for professional librarians. Itzhak replied that he
had come to Israel to become a pioneer, to which he received the response,
"And are we not performing pioneering work??!!"
KIBBUTZ EIN-SHEMER
To the east of the town of Hadera, near the passageway of Iron River (known
as Wadi-Ara), the land of Kibbutz Ein-Shemer was bought from Arabs dunam
[quarter-acre] by dunam, who considered it worthless, hazardous swampland.

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Every piece of land purchased in those days was seen as a means of
securing the future of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel.

Those were years of extreme deprivation and even famine. The isolated spot
was set in barren terrain that extended toward dark, dreary hills. There was a
heavy stone wall around the place, with an iron gate that was shut each
evening. Only the tinkling of bells of camels passing by would interrupt the
silence at night, intensifying the feeling of separation from the rest of the
world. And within the courtyard, surrounded by stone walls, stood a solitary,
two-story stone house and a few white tents scattered around. The house
served as a waystation for Jewish travelers from Judah to the Galilee and the
valley as well as providing shelter for the ill among the kibbutz members. The
tents, which were the kibbutz members' living quarters, were roofless and
paved in clay mud; they offered scant shelter from the dripping rain and
chilling cold.

In those days there was no contact among the settlements, and trips were
difficult and rare. Each person underwent his or her own test of muscles and
will, to prove equal to the Arab manual laborers and to find work in the Jewish
settlements, whether in guarding, toiling in orchards, drying out swamps or
construction.

The kibbutz members came, for the most part, from the large cities in Europe,
where they were able to benefit from many opportunities in educational and
scholastic institutions. They were considered the elite members of the
movement of haShomer haTzair, were convinced of the integrity of their
intentions and were self-confident about their way of fulfilling the Zionist
enterprise.

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Palestine Jewish Colonization Association (PJCA)
land, 1932. This view, from south of the kibbutz
indicates why the Arabs from the Manshiya tribe were
so pleased to sell these lands to the pioneers in 1927

Herds of buffalo roamed among contaminated bodies of water and swamps,
accompanied by wandering herders, who were impervious to heat and
malaria, disparaged the mosquitoes and milked their beasts everywhere. In
1936 the British built an airfield and important base bearing the name Ein-
Shemer (later called Sha'ar-Menashe).

With the aid of a hand
pump, Itzhak transfers
water from barrels to the
kibbutz' water tank, 1933.
The water was brought
daily along a rickety path
by a cart hitched to
horses from the nearby
settlement of Karkur,.
There was no road and
water was scarce. Only in
1936 a sufficient quantity
of water was found on
Ein-Shemer

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In the days of the struggle for workplaces in the Land of Israel, the
kibbutz established a construction crew. Itzhak in Ra'afiya, a one-
man workshop, which he set up and in which he cast roofing tiles for
the surrounding area in the 1930s

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Itzhak driving a tractor, Itzhak recovering from malaria. This
leveling the soil. His one wretched disease struck the kibbutz
desire was to be a worker and caused more than a few deaths.
with equal rights and equal Only ten percent of the residents of
status to those of the the Land of Israel at that time did not
kibbutz "veterans" contract malaria

The pioneers led indescribably harsh lives, lacking a decent place to sleep,
suffering from the night cold, with sparse water, rudimentary food, crowded
tents, backbreaking labor – and above all, harassment by Arabs.

When he came to the kibbutz, Itzhak knew that he was undertaking a very
difficult enterprise. Like many youths of his generation, he was determined to
redeem the Jewish people from their suffering and hardship in the Diaspora,
to establish a state that would be their home and to regain sovereignty in their
historic homeland. On his own, he acquired skill as a shepherd, baker,
builder… and then, just as he was painfully putting down roots, he contracted
malaria and became very weak.

TEACHING

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When he had recovered somewhat, the kibbutz asked him if he would be
willing to be the first teacher for the first children of the kibbutz. After much
hesitation he agreed, and fulfilled the position of teacher and educator with
great respect. Within a year his pupils acquired the skills of reading and
writing, knowledge about the country, arithmetic and several other elementary
concepts to the satisfaction of the parents and members, who came to shake
Itzhak's hand at the end of the school year and pat him on the back.

The first teacher of the first
children: Itzhak with David
and Alit, 1933
Itzhak gave a short speech as part of the ceremony held in honor of the first
Children's Day on the kibbutz, in which he said, "The kibbutz gave me the
responsibility of teaching its first children. This was no simple task, and those
before me had been unsuccessful, because the children had to be put into a
framework taught discipline and to get the most out of life within their very
own study program; I also had to prepare them for the continuation of their
studies in Mishmar-haEmek. It was hard work, and it was not easy for me to
fulfill the function of instructing them in reading and writing, arithmetic, history,
the Land of Israel, the Bible and of course drawing, poetry, trips and arts-and-
crafts. All of the kibbutz members were involved and lived the experience with
us, and in this way we all met the challenge" (from the Ein-Shemer archives).

GUARDING

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After the year of teaching, Itzhak driven by a sense of duty, began guarding,
for one of the guards had contracted malaria and no one else could be found
to fill his place. Protecting the area was a task placed in the hands of just a
few people, some ghaffir [watchmen] who were serving in His Royal Majesty's
service and were under the practical supervision of the Hagana (the security
branch of the Zionist Histadrut [labor federation]). Ein-Shemer searched for a
suitable candidate to guard the fields. Itzhak had already recovered from his
bout with malaria; his shoulders had broadened and he had gotten stronger.
The kibbutz meeting appointed him to be the head of local security. In the
short time granted him, he demonstrated courage, conscientiousness and
dedication, and thus he began to make his way in the Notrut corps.

A drawing by one of the kibbutz members, Ignatz Palgi, illustrating
Itzhak and his friends on the background of the Ephriam Mountains as
they looked from the kibbutz fields. Caption: the field guards
The kibbutz purchased a young riding horse and a boxer dog and gave the
new field guard a free rein in carrying out his plans. Itzhak did not know how
to train a horse or a dog, but he thought to himself that no one would do it for
him. He applied to Dr. Ben-Yosef, one of the most veteran guards in the
country, who had been a member of the legendary Shomer organization and
who was also the veterinarian who took care of the cowsheds in the region
and was familiar with the stables in the British camps in the area at that time.
In this way, Itzhak came in contact with the Notrut corps, which operated in

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the early 1930's as a small, involved and relatively tight community and which
he eventually joined after being a kibbutz guard.

Theoretically, there was no difference between him and the other kibbutz
members: everyone would arise before sunrise for a day of oppressive labor
and travail. But in fact, the others were satisfied with doing what they were
capable of, and what they weren't capable of, they would let be; whereas
Itzhak was one who stuck to his goal. His character contained more than a
few contradictions: he was an intellectual yet a field guard, a romanticist yet a
man of action; he was free of conventions yet meticulous, rebellious yet
compliant. He was ready for every test, while at the same time nothing had
prepared him to protect and defend the very existence of the settlement in the
Land of Israel; yet he knew that a way would be found to face the struggle.

JOINING NOTRIM

The first weeks of his undertaking and his achievements in this period of time
proved the importance of placing him in the forward guard of the Notrim in the
region. His friends from Vilna were even more surprised than he was – a Jew,
an intellectual, cultured and knowledgeable in many realms – and it was this
very situation that invigorated him; this was the present need and so he acted
according to his conscience and consciousness.

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Itzhak dressed as a 1934: Itzhak with his horse, Khetz
[Hebrew word for "arrow"], on the
ghaffir with a tall kolpak background of the kibbutz

[Turkish-style] hat

bearing the seal of the

British Empire; guards

like him, both Arab and

Jewish, received a

small salary from High

Commissioner of

Palestine-Land of Israel

"Once, when returning from patrolling the fields, he found the fence closed
and the gate locked. Having no choice, he backed up some distance and
then, in a gallop, he and his horse leapt over the south fence to the joyous
uproar of the children" [told by Yoav from Erez children's group, about 20
years later].

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Holiday on Kibbutz Ein-Shemer, 1934. The neighbors, members of
a Turkmen tribe and Arabs from the nearby villages, are invited.
They take part in dancing the debka and playing monotonous
Eastern melodies. Dreams passed on through the generations, of
harmonious neighborly relations, were woven here
HISTORY OF SECURITY IN THE YISHUV
The British had the power to confiscate the weapons of the guards at any
time, and they were capable of leaving the entire population unprotected.
Therefore, the members began to hoard weapons in hidden storerooms that
were called slicks or nutkas. In every settlement there was at least one slick.
Under the steps of the two-story stone house a nutka was built, in which a few
pistols were kept hidden. Hand grenades and a machine gun were smuggled
in from abroad; ammunition was hidden from the wide-open eyes of the
British, who tried to prevent the establishment of an organized security system
in the agricultural settlements. Training sessions were held in secret; Itzhak
believed that limited, properly-organized guarding would enable the kibbutz to
continue living peacefully side-by-side with the neighboring Arabs.
There were few days that were not tense. According to Turkish law, the land
belonged to whoever worked it. The Jewish settlements were dispersed in the
periphery (along the boundaries of land owned by the Jewish National Fund,
United Jewish Appeal or PICA, or lands owned by Baron Rothschild,
Yehoshua Hankin and others). Around Ein-Shemer there were nomadic tribes
who ignored the so-called Settlement (regulation of lands) of the British. Aside
from the Arab villages in the Wadi-Ara corridor, there was a Circassian village
located to the south of Gan-Shmuel and there were Arab el-Manshiya, Arab
el-Bara, a tribe of Turkmen that had abandoned its tents near Tcherkes,
Arabs from Damayira and Awarna; they stole whatever and wherever they

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could, set fields on fire and invaded other lands with their flocks, claiming the
areas were "dead lands" (in Arabic: ard muat). As the kibbutz developed, such
provocations increased.

Tension grew, and the workers in the orchards, shepherds in the distant
pastures and truck driver who drove to Tel-Aviv by way of Kakun and Tul-
Karem were unsafe. Incitement and hatred were heard in hushed tones.

The Jewish settlements were the foundation stone in building the new
economy of the nation-to-be. Itzhak saw that there must be organized
protection for the kibbutz, standing isolated on the eastern border of the
Shomron. (Kibbutz Ma'anit was founded nearby only in 1943.) As was his
wont, he devoted himself to his latest job, which occupied him greatly. After
long days of training and effort, he learned how to ride a horse well and to use
a gun. The modus operandi consisted of patrols in the fields and orchards,
guaranteeing safe passage on the roads and paths and guarding at night.
Before long, the young librarian with the black forelock had become a Noter
who was second to none, and like the more veteran guards, was often seen
astride his loyal horse.

Efforts were made to nurture peaceful relations with the neighboring Arabs,
but the situation on the borders were unclear and impermanent – not only the
national boarders but also those between one authority and another, between
what was permitted and what was forbidden – and all this was unconducive to
a successful relationship.

The presence of a guard in the field served to oust marauders and prevent
hostile action, but still, there was a big gap between that and the assurance of
a proper routine for the kibbutz members, due to the limited means they had
at hand.

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Hagana training, 1936 (Itzhak
climbing a rope)

Notrim. Itzhak in uniform next to his horse,
Khetz

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Mordechai "Motke" Ben-Ari with the mayor of Hadera
at that time and Itzhak

The meaning of Notrut is to take a stand, to be aware during routine, daily
guarding. The British police could not overcome the Arab gangs who attacked
electrical lines, the oil pipeline and traffic on the roads. Itzhak reached a
gloomy conclusion: there would be no hope and no future without organized
protection in the Land of Israel, in which there was existential danger hanging
over the heads of Jews. He knew that they could not wait and do nothing and
that the way out of this threatening situation lay in active safeguarding.
World War I had brought with it the aphorism of justice and integrity; why
should the people of Israel be left out? "We have come to the Land as
neighboring brethren, not to push the inhabitants away but to make the Land
bloom and to bring our brothers, who are subjected to destruction in the
Diaspora", it was written in the newspapers, but the expectation of a national
home in the Land of Israel caused an uprising among the Arabs; hit-and-run
hostile deeds continued, and here and there Jews were ambushed and killed.
The Disturbances, as they came to be known, which began in 1936, turned
into armed revolt. The Jews, their fields and their settlements became a target
for attacks by Arab bands, as did the institutions of the British rule and its
installations.
The violent nature of the national struggle presented Itzhak with the difficult
challenge of safeguarding the physical existence of the kibbutz from disorder.
One had to find the needed strength, not to flee but to stand up and face the
fight, to defeat the enemy and to ascertain the right of the Jews to live in the
Land of Israel, even at the price of willingness to sacrifice one's own life.
The Jewish community in the Land of Israel was small but unified; it was
infused with vitality and was capable of action due to efficient internal

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organization and management. The Yishuv [pre-state Jewish population] was
characterized by a tradition of willingness to contribute to the public and to
sacrifice for its common good. Nationalism was a deeply rooted emotion.
During these years the security forces pushed their way forward; the Notrim
corps, which had been founded by the authorities, enabled Itzhak to receive
official coverage, but the training in which he participated was extended to the
Hagana, which was, as mentioned above, the security branch of the Zionist
Histadrut. Itzhak's nom-de-guerre was Shai – the initials of his name reversed.

27

The Security House on Ein-Shemer, constructed entirely of reinforced concrete
and intended to provide safe shelter in the event of trouble or distress, 1936.
Around its flat roof, a barricade was built, containing loopholes and a spotlight to
illuminate the sky at night. The long beam of light infused the members with a
feeling of security, signaled a warning to the enemy and offered hope to the ally.
Small map above, right: the national communications network

28

A traveler going along the Wadi-Ara road, from the boundary of the coastal
plain to Jezreel Valley, turning his gaze to the right toward the Ephraim
Mountains and to the left to the Carmel Ranges further on, and ascending the
road that extends between the mountain ranges, will come to the place where
Kibbutz Ein-Shemer stood isolated for fifteen years, the solitary pioneering
outpost in the region. In order to secure the borders and internal paths of the
settlement, there needed to be additional settlements in the area, but due to
lack of water (a sufficient quantity of which was found only in 1936), there
could be no substantial settlement in the region. The relative ease with which
the access road to the kibbutz could be cut off caused the members to think
innovatively: the so-called Security House was built, as well as three well-
fortified lookout spots, composed of reinforced poured concrete, equipped
with ammunition and supplies in the event of siege.

Lookout station at the bend in the entry
road to the kibbutz, on the top of which
there was a spotlight to illuminate the
surroundings with a ray and shed light
over the barren terrain, 1936

At the very same time the British army built many bases in the Land of Israel.
Near the kibbutz an airfield, army base no. 80, a large supply base where
Giv'at-Haviva now stands, as well as other places were set up. In addition,
militarized police fortresses, known as Tegart forts [named for Sir Charles

29

Tegart, who conceived and designed them] were built, overlooking and
guarding strategic junctions and spots in the area such as Hadera, Zikhron-
Ya'akov, Arubot Junction, near the airfield and other places. The British
soldiers and policemen would withdraw at night into their secured bases. They
were in favor of training Arab and Jewish guards who would assist the British
Empire, protect its installations and impose order.

The Hagana, which was skilled at astute thinking and grasping of reality,
encouraged its members to join the Notrut corps. But Britain, which was the
military-political patron of the region, restricted Itzhak and his comrades-in-
arms, openly interfering with their efforts and striving to prevent them from
establishing a system of protection. Thus, the Notrim not only worked to
protect British installations, as the English intended them to do, but also
organized their own defensive system: they operated as mobile protectors of
the Jewish settlements, going from place to place and establishing a
presence. As such, their mission was both to pre-empt hostile attacks by the
Arabs whenever possible, and to meet the armed, hostile Arabs face-to-face
when the need arose.

DR. MENZEL AND HAÏK

Certain anonymous individuals, who identified with the Jewish destiny,
supported the idea of the renewal of the Jewish people on its land. Faced with
the danger of actual annihilation, Orde Wingate (who became known as "The
Friend") set up the theoretical and applied foundation for warfare in the region.
Dr. Rudolfina Menzel, a veterinarian who specialized in caring for and training
guard dogs, also came to the Land of Israel. These two giants greatly
influenced Itzhak's life and the path he took in the Hagana.

It was difficult to safeguard the Ein-Shemer region. The expansive areas
contained field crops, groves, orchards and vineyards. The kibbutz itself was
comprised of dwelling places, barns, cowsheds, chicken coops and
workshops. By the time Itzhak became a Noter, there had been many hostile
activities; there was one severe incident, in 1936, in which two night
watchmen were shot and killed, one on the stone wall and the other in the
dining room.

Dr. Menzel suggested that the Hagana hold a guard dog training course for a
few of the Notrim deemed suitable for this purpose and would be willing to get
a trained guard dog to increase their ability to defend the settlements.

Itzhak, who was already somewhat experienced in guarding with a dog and a
horse, was sent to the course, which was held in Tel-Mond. There he met Dr.
Menzel, who admired the pioneers for their ability and willingness to build up
the Land of Israel, and for the price they were paying in order to make
something out of nothing. To assist the pioneers, she had come to the Land to

30

work, among others, with the Hagana, and for that purpose had brought a
number of dogs with her. She had already trained them abroad – giving them
instructions in the Hebrew language – for guarding roles and to block the
destructive gangs that were attacking Jewish settlements. She discovered
that Itzhak was a suitable person; she discerned that he was a brave guard
with a positive attitude toward dogs. She gave him the choicest dog of all the
ones she had nurtured – Haïk. Haïk was a big, handsome dog with a
remarkable, documented pedigree; his name came from an Amerind word
meaning "forward, onward". He had been brought to Israel after having won
prizes and impressing all those who observed him with his Spartan training
and exceptional characteristics. Dr. Menzel stipulated a particular condition
that had to be met in order for Itzhak to receive the dog: the kibbutz was
obliged to build a doghouse according to standard rules, with a concrete
courtyard, water faucet and high chain link fence.

One of the first buildings on Kibbutz Ein-Shemer
was a doghouse for Haïk, 1936. The members
were still living in tents and shacks, but for the
renowned guard dog a sophisticated kennel was
constructed in accordance with the strict
requirements of Dr. Rudolphina Menzel

Haïk was, as expected, a loyal, disciplined guard. He quickly rained terror on
the surroundings, and among the Arabs of the region, hair-raising stories and
legends arose and spread. He frightened the bands and helped quiet things
down.

31
Dr. Rudolphina Menzel, at right, during the Tel Mond course, 1936

32

"… Itzhak Shemi brought the legendary
Haïk to Ein-Shemer. We built him an
elegant kennel in the center of the kibbutz,
near the dovecote, placed on a concrete
base, and he would go out with Itzhak,
riding on Khetz, We always loved to hear
the story retold of how he ran after Arabs
who came to steal and to burn our fields,
caught one of them, took a healthy bite out
of his buttocks and wouldn't let go until
Itzhak opened his jaws with a stick… and
ever since, when the Arabs saw him at a
distance, they would flee…" From the
Kibbutz Ein-Shemer newsletter, 1970,
entitled "Stories from this Place". - written
by Eli Alon. Sketched by Ignatz Palgi. From
the Kibbutz Ein-Shemer newsletter, 1970,
entitled "Stories from this Place"

33
South of Ein-Shemer, where Giv'at-Haviva is now located, there was a big
British base containing horse stables and a center for trained dog
competitions that were organized by the British army. Representatives would
come from the entire Near East under British rule. Every detail was attended
to, from the leashes to the complicated performances by the participants and
their dogs. Haïk won awards for his accomplishments. His cups and medals,
which bore the stamp of the English crown, were placed in fancy cases on
soft, colored velvet and provided an almost outrageous contrast between their
elegant appearance and the modest lifestyle and sparse living quarters on the
kibbutz. Incidentally, this "treasure" and many other documents were
destroyed when the Hagana archives were burned down on Black Shabbat in
1946.

1936: Dog training course, led by Dr. Menzel. Itzhak is third from left with Haïk

34

tzhak and Haïk Itzhak with the dogs, Haïk and Ez,
in the fields of Ein-Shemer

Haïk in the trained dog competition, 1937

35

Dog competition: Itzhak at far right with Haïk

In the two photos above: Itzhak and Haïk performing exercise for judges and
invited crowd. Prizes were awarded for posture, achievements and
appearance. Among the competitors were purebred dogs, horses and even
carrier pigeons
In view of the weak, ineffective response of the British rule, the Hagana
instituted strict guarding of every settlement, no matter how isolated it was.
The intention was to establish a strong stance and secure settlements that
would fill their function as homes for citizens, who would not be ruled by
others. The objective was to eliminate the element of fear, to create an

36

atmosphere of quietude and trust. The Notrim corps, which had been set up
by the Mandatory government, enabled the Hagana to get official cover for its
activities; training was expanded and the modus operandi changed and
developed.

ARAB VIOLENCE INCREASES

There were few Arabs who were willing to sacrifice their lives or funds for a
nationalistic goal, yet the gangs' daring increased day by day. Armed Arab
bands established themselves in villages and city kasbas [marketplaces].
Within this harsh reality of tension and bloodletting, the kibbutz fulfilled the
security assignments imposed on it. And in time, its members went out to the
beaches of Hadera, Vitkin, Atlit and Caesarea to help the "illegal" immigrants
[so called because the British authorities forbade their entry] disembark from
boats and assist them in blending in among the population.

Itzhak operated in secret. He knew that the success of his work depended on
precision and speed. One could not afford to expect political aid to arrive,
when the franchise for settling the country was in Arab hands and one could
not afford to perpetuate the myth of a defenseless people.

The ability to conduct discussions with neighbors in the Arab villages was
necessary in order to reach sustainable peace when the time came. And
since the Jewish settlers came mainly from Europe, the Hagana established
an Arabic department and attached an Arabic-speaking advisor to each
region. Itzhak's liaison man was Ezra Danin (born in Yaffo) from the state
department of the Jewish Agency, a resident of Hadera who met routinely with
Arabs and was acquainted with residents of the area. Ezra would say, "By
conducting ourselves well with them we will be able to prevent bloodshed…".
A warm friendship grew up between Ezra and Itzhak which lasted for many
years. They worked together to bridge differences and forge mutual
understanding.

Itzhak's lifestyle as a kibbutz member served as a basis of personal example
and trusting relationships. He was accustomed to handling the small details
from which the intricate whole would eventually be composed. His insistence
on principles did not stem from belonging to any political party and was
unconnected with it. His belonging to the broad Jewish-Israeli society was not
contrary to the existence of the kibbutz on the one hand and to building and
fortifying the country on the other. This was the path he chose as an answer
to the rioters: we will not be conquered in the Land of Israel.

1936-1939, The Meoraot [incidents], also known as the Disturbances, were
accompanied by extremist nationalist Arabic preaching in the mosques, and
through the press and radio. The bands became organized as military units,
headed by commanders born in this country, who were joined by several

37

hundred marauders from Iraq and Syria. Fawzi al-Qawuqji was appointed
commander in August 1936.

Ammunition belts and kefiyas [headdresses] worn by Arab
warriors, 1936. Fawzi al-Qawuqji is third from right. Fawzi al-
Qawuqji led the Arab revolt in the Land of Israel and tried his
hand once again in the winter of 1948, when he hastily
returned to the country as the head of the so-called Salvation
Army and suffered dire losses at the gates of Kibbutz Tirat-
Tzvi and Kibbutz Mishmar-haEmek

Committees for the defense of Palestine were established in Arab states; the
Mufti of Jerusalem succeeded in giving the impression to the world that the
Arab people were united. The government of the British Mandate refrained
from harnessing in the rioters as long as they did not comprise a risk to British
rule; but it restricted the Jewish people seeking to return to its homeland,
through White Paper decrees forbidding purchase of lands and limiting aliya
to rationed quotas. Britain changed its declared position regarding the right of
the Jewish people to build its national homeland in the Land of Israel, at the
very time when the Nazi threat in Europe was approaching its height.
Leaders of the Yishuv chose restraint, but Arab terror increased, with the
intention of stopping Jewish aliya.
The Hagana operated in secret. It instructed the residents to hold weapons
and protect their lives and property day and night. Its members knew that they
would have to fight both the Arabs and the British. Were it not for the Hagana,
it would have been impossible to carry out "illegal" immigration; it would have
been impossible to set up settlements. The British army had not been trained
to operate under the conditions that had been created. The goal of the Arab
bands was to paralyze the economic life of the Yishuv and to destroy it.

38

For six months, from April to October 1936, the Arab bands attempted to
disrupt and cut off transportation routes, isolate settlements and rampage
through them. The British governor of Nazareth was assassinated. The High

39

Arab Committee was disbanded and declared hostile; many of its members
fled the country. The Arab rioters were concentrated in the hills and from time
to time would harass the settlements, bursting in and then leaving. From then
on, the Arab villages became known as bases from which men would either
willingly or unwillingly go out on to attack behalf of the gangs. The villagers
provided manpower, funding and food. Arab terror felled hundreds of victims
from among the Jewish settlers, the overwhelming majority of whom were
civilians going about their daily lives.
The Disturbances created an irreparable tear in the fabric of the region and
ended with uncertainty as to the continued existence of the Land of Israel,
right at a time when peace was needed more than ever.
THE HAGANA
The Hagana, which was founded in 1920 with the encouragement of veterans
of the Shomer [guarding association founded in 1908] and former members of
the Hebrew battalions, fought within the framework of the British army during
World War I, gaining experience in beating Arab bands. The challenges with
which the defenders were faced taught them how to cope with the situation,
which required great strength, stamina and fitness for battle.

Orde Charles Wingate
Major-General Orde Charles Wingate came to the Land of Israel in the
autumn of 1936 in order to assist units of Jewish Notrim by teaching them
active defense, including patrolling, ambushing and barricading. Small assault
units began to operate in hostile areas, moving at night and surprising the
enemy by the very fact of their actions.
The British authorities were the ones who at one time had turned to the
Jewish settlements and proposed organizing protection of them with the help

40

of guards, the Notrim. The Hagana's central leadership was inclined to accept
the proposal, assuming that such guarding would secure the crops during
harvest season, would make the Arab gangs' mobility harder and would
protect the installations (oil pipeline, railway tracks, electric lines and so on).
Orde Wingate, being a firm believer in the Bible and Jewish destiny,
encouraged the establishment of military companies in the field by the
Hagana. Within a month more than ten operations against Arab bands had
been carried out, in one of which Itzhak himself was severely wounded; the
then region quieted down and the residents organized themselves more
conscientiously for their own protection.

WORLD WAR II ERUPTS

At the same time that the skies of Europe were being darkened by clouds of
anti-Semitism, the government of the Mandate published the White Paper [a
set of British regulations biased against the Jews] of 1939, prohibiting
purchase of land in the Land of Israel by Jews and severely limiting Jewish
immigration.

When World War II broke out, in Sept. 1939, Itzhak was very occupied with
his security responsibilities in the eastern Shomron area, which constituted an
important strategic place between the plain and the inner valleys, and
between the West Bank of the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea
coast.

At the time when the German armies were defeating the other European
nations, the Land of Israel became an active rear base for the Allied forces.
The Zionist movement aligned itself with them in the war against the Nazis;
the Land of Israel was inundated by British army units and served as an
enormous rear base, both military and industrial, for the English. Beginning in
mid-1940, roads, army camps and installations were built in the area (and
throughout the Land of Israel). The airfield to the south of the kibbutz was built
on lands of Manshiya, which had been purchased for Jewish settlement. Two
quarries were dug in the Ephraim Mountains to the east of Ein-Shemer in
order to fill the demand for construction materials. The railway system was
improved and extended to Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon. Jewish industry in the
Land of Israel proved its ability to organize itself and meet the challenge. The
canned food industry and textile industry were the first ones to benefit,
receiving purchase orders to manufacture goods for the war effort. The metal,
machine, vehicle and weapons industries subsequently experienced a five-
fold increase in volume of orders. Without any competition from Europe or the
U.S., the medicinal and optical industries doubled their output, as did the
manufacturers of precise instruments and polishers of diamonds.

41

With almost no imported agricultural produce, and the new kibbutzim were
able to strengthen their financial base. The number of Arab laborers increased
and the Jewish economy absorbed Arab immigrants from Transjordan and
Syria. The region experienced growth and prosperity beyond what anyone
had imagined; within just a few years the Land of Israel reached a point of
development that characterized the spirit, sophistication and pragmatism of
the period.

The Peel Commission Partition Plan (1937) led by Lord Robert Peel and the
White Paper decrees placed the Yishuv and the Hagana in the position of
deliberating on how to cope with the situation.

In 1942, ten years after Itzhak had made aliya to the Land of Israel, he and his
wife Regina were about to become parents for the second time. The kibbutz
members were like their family – the anchor mooring their lives. They had
enthusiastically and wholeheartedly become integrated in the country, making
every effort to put their past behind them. Their skin had been tanned by the
sun and the Hebrew language rolled easily off their tongues. The Diaspora
had become a forgotten vision – but the vicissitudes of fate were destined to
reverse the wheel of change.

When World War II broke out, each day bringing more news of horror and
devastation, the sacred ties binding them to the places of their childhood in
Europe were revived – redirecting their thoughts to their first motherland in
which memories of 2,000 years of exile, persecution and pogroms were
manifested. Hitler's armies raided Poland and Lithuania, reaching the gates of
Vilna. The new reality was unrecognizably different; rumors spread of
annihilation of Jews, and reliable reports of mass murder began to reach the
Land of Israel.

JOINING THE BRITISH ARMY

The British army searched for volunteers for units of what became known as
"the Brigades" (soldiers who were sent to the European front to fight within the
framework of the British forces) and Palmach [plugot machatz – Hebrew for
"crushing companies"] which were set up in the Land of Israel with assistance
from the English in order to keep the Germans from invading the country.
There was indeed a real fear of German invasion, which posed a tangible
danger from both north and south.

The kibbutz was required to fill a quota of ten "volunteers" for the Brigades; it
was decided to hold a lottery among the kibbutz members to see who would
have to serve. The evening of the lottery was a stormy, wintery night and the
chill penetrated through the walls of the shack where everyone was gathered.
From time to time the electricity went off and then on again. One after the
other, the members went up to draw their lottery numbers. Something heavy,

42

seeped in anguish, pulled Itzhak to vanquished Europe. He had a desire to
take revenge on the Germans. Other members drew the fateful lots, among
them one person who was clearly revolted by the idea of participating in the
war. And then, with the knowledge and support of his wife Regina, Itzhak went
up to that member and asked him to hand over his lot and give Itzhak his
place. Yitzhak later wrote in his memoirs:

Knowing the Nazi horrors, my instinctual response was to take revenge
on the murders by taking part in the war. The only way to carry out my
desire was through the British army, that is, to enlist in the army. And
so I decided to be recruited into the British army.

At that time the relations between the Jewish settlement and the
Mandatory government had reached a nadir. The British army
persecuted the Hagana and conducted searches in the settlements;
when I announced my desire to be conscripted into the British army I
encountered resentment and general opposition. Members shook their
heads at my decision. Many tried to convince me otherwise, but I was
determined to enlist.

The above passage presents the terrible rift in personal and kibbutz
consciousness as opposed to the helplessness against the horror of the
Holocaust – an episode in history that fragmented the entire past of the
glorious Jewish community in the Diaspora and of Jewish culture in Europe.

Echoes of fighting in North Africa and on the Stalingrad battlefront reached
Itzhak's ears on that same morning when he joined the other Jewish
volunteers in the British army. After a period of training in Atlit (Wadi-Sakher)
he was put on board a British ship that was anchored in Haifa, and was
already envisioning reaching the European frontlines in a British army uniform
in order to fight against the despised enemy, the Nazis.

JOINING THE HAGANA

But Eliyahu Golomb, the head of the Hagana, did not view things that way. He
sent a messenger on a motorbike to dash off and release Itzhak from the
British army service to which he had "defected". As it turned out, the Hagana
had a long arm that reached all the way to a British commander (who was
Jewish…). After a short but complicated procedure involving forged
documents, Itzhak was discharged from the army, taken off the boat and
brought back on the back seat of the motorbike, after which the messenger
hurried off on his way, just as quickly as he had come. In this way Itzhak got
to Tel-Aviv and was brought to a house at 23 Rothschild Boulevard and into
the presence of Eliyahu Golomb, (1893-1945), a representative of the most
important Jewish national institutions.

43

"Why?" asked Eliyahu, and Itzhak expressed his rage and protest at the
affront to his decision. Eliyahu replied, "We will redeem our account with the
Nazis here in Israel".
"But our debt to our families has not been paid off – and it is huge…"
"You'll collect it by our methods", Eliyahu replied quietly.
Exactly what happened and precisely how Eliyahu Golomb persuaded Itzhak
Shemi to accept the burden of the Hagana upon himself, how similar they
were in their opinions and outlooks, to what extent each of them was capable
of distinguishing between the means to and end and the end itself, and
ultimately, to what degree they nurtured a hidden affinity for Jewish tradition,
beyond the thick shell of one who fights fearlessly for his country – these are
questions we will never know the answer to.

Oath of Loyalty to the Hagana
I hereby declare that based on personal voluntarism and my own free
recognizance I am entering the Hebrew defense organization in the Land of
Israel.
I swear to be faithful all the days of my life to the Hagana organization, to its
constitution and to its duties as defined in its foundation doctrine by the high
command.
I swear to stand ready to serve the Hagana organization, to take upon myself
its discipline unconditionally and unreservedly, and, upon its call, to enter into
active service at any time and in any place, to obey all its commands and to
fulfill all its instructions.
I swear to devote all my powers and even to sacrifice my life for the defense
and the war for my people and my homeland, for the freedom of Israel and for
the redemption of Zion.

44

From a letter to his grandson, Daniel:

I was tossed about for 120 km on the back of a motorbike that raced to
Tel-Aviv, straight to the home of Eliyahu Golomb, where my
commanders already awaited me, smiling. And Eliyahu, who spoke in a
deep, quiet voice, first offered me a small glass of alcohol and then
said one word to me: "Why?" – which encompassed everything. And
we had a long conversation, at the end of which he got up out of his
chair, went over to me and laid a heavy hand on my back; the weight of
that hand remained on my shoulders for a full ten years… and to my
commanders he said, "Take him!"

Eliyhau Golomb saw Itzhak as the link connecting him (Golomb) with the
younger generation; he very much wanted to have Itzhak devote his time to
recruitment of young people and was confident that he was the right person
for the job. Itzhak did not want to continue dealing with young people; he saw
himself as a fighter in a field company. But Eliyahu explained, "Each one of us
comes to the Hagana with everything he has accumulated until this point in
his lifetime. We must increase enrollment, we must form and unify the recruits
into a Hagana framework – the field units, field corps and Palmach; we face
an invasion by the Arab armies."

Dismayed and dumbfounded, Itzhak left Eliyahu's house. From then on, he
was fully conscripted in the Hagana. At that time he did not envision that he
would be granted such importance and in particular, did not envision the
intentions of the Arab invasion. And he joined the Hagana because he had to,
because he was faithful to his path in life; his despondence stemmed from his
concern for his family in the Diaspora. But at the same time, he was
determined to stick with his assignment and become resilient.

ITZHAK'S PART IN OPPOSING ROMMEL

The Hagana sent Itzhak to a commanders' course in Joara in the Ephraim
Mountains. Joara was the underground "military academy". This course was
the legendary course of the German Section – a special unit of German
speakers whose task was to operate against the Nazi armies. As someone
who had spent his childhood speaking Russian, German and Hebrew, Itzhak
was valuable to the Hagana.

Field-Marshall Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Corps were at the gates of
Alexandria in Egypt. A plan was drawn up to fortify the Carmel Mountains as a
place with storerooms of food and ammunition in preparation for a siege. The
plan called for turning Mount Carmel into a Masada-like mountain fortress
from which the Hagana and the Jewish population would man defensive
positions and fight to the death if the German forces succeeded in breaking
through the last line of British resistance at El-Alamein. The German Section

45

was a crucial part of the plan, as it was to infiltrate in small groups and
operate from behind the enemy's rear lines. The Hagana underground was in
charge of everything; it determined what would be concealed and what would
be revealed, and how to work within the four-sided conflict that included
Israel, the Arabs, the British and the Nazis.
After Rommel's defeat in el-Alamein (23 Oct. 1942), the Hagana's detailed
plans for fortifying the Carmel were abandoned; the British set up a camp for
Italian prisoners of war, who had also taken part with the Germans in the
battles in Africa, in Pardess-Hanna.
RECRUITING FOR THE HAGANA
In Feb. 1943, while Itzhak was in Joara, conducting a course for section
commanders, he was told by military communications that he had a new baby
girl. "The commander's commander", they told him; but he could not get off to
go home and see her for a long time.

Itzhak and his family, 1945. From left to right: their oldest
daughter Avia, Itzhak, their middle daughter Hagar and Itzhak's
wife Regina
After conducting the courses in Joara, Itzhak got the exclusive job of recruiter
in the coastal plain region – at first in Shomron and a year later in the area
from Tel-Aviv to Haifa as well, including the Petakh-Tikva area. He dedicated
himself to integrating the forces of volunteers and strove to set up a military
framework that would encompass thousands of underground fighters.
The British were unwilling to have a local Jewish army set up, and did their
best to disrupt the organizing of the Hagana until the end of their official
position in the Land of Israel (15 May 1948). Strangely enough, during all this

46

time they bothered neither the armed forces of the Arabs nor the Salvation
Army of Qawuqji which were sometimes located just a couple of kilometers
from their bases. But the integration of ideals of Zionism and socialism did
wonders, as manifested in the Histadrut activities. The institutions of the state-
to-be organized themselves to carry out promotion and fundraising. Under the
auspices of the British Mandate, the Jewish Agency was created as a
consulting institute for the people's government. Ironically enough, this agency
was the body that established the Hagana, by which in most cases the Arab
bands' attacks on the Jewish settlements in the Land of Israel were repulsed.

The Hagana continued to operate in secret. The fighters were committed to
training and practicing the use of light weapons: pistols, rifles, Sten guns or
homemade grenades. Training was done furtively in schools, hospitals and
even synagogues after work hours. Meeting places were kept secret and were
frequently changed. "Telem, Shamir, Boaz" [three random Hebrew words]
was the secret code for the Hagana's broadcasts . Itzak worked hard to recruit
young people for Gadna [gdudei-noar, youth battalions], together with Itzhak
Sadeh, commander of the Palmach, and with Moshe Zalitzki (Carmel),
Yehoshua Globerman and Itzhak Dubno (some of the Hagana commanders).

Arrangements were made for accepting the recruits into the Hagana's ranks
and registering them; a personal oath of total commitment for each individual
was composed. The Hagana's goal was prepare itself for the struggle against
the anticipated invasion of Arab armies. Training included use of light
weapons and omega [aerial rope-slide], camping, communications and sports
with the purpose of improving stamina.

With the entry… of Itzhak Shemi from Kibbutz Ein-Shemer to serve in
the command battalion together with Yosef Dashevskyu from Shfayim,
widespread activity began in the battalion: drilling and field exercises,
daytime and nighttime field training, face-to-face battle, topography,
hand-to-hand combat and ideological instruction… a number of young
people were sent to enlist in the police force of the Jewish population.
Officially they were Notrim, but their activity was in the framework of
the Gadna.

– from the Hagana book of Hadera

Itzhak would participate in the activities which he decided on as a Hagana
commander. On the motorcycle he had in his possession, he would get from
place to place quickly. He was occupied with distributing and hiding weapons.
He was present at the time of setting up new settlements and was aware of
everything relating to their security. He was active in ha'apala [immigration of
Jews, illegal under British law], furtively helping immigrants off boats and

47

finding safe haven for them. And he did everything he could to recruit those
who left other underground organizations Etzel and Lechi, into the Hagana.

48

ITZHAK IN THE HAGANA

Section of a letter from Yitzhak to his grandson Daniel:
"While surprised to hear that you're interested in the history of the Hagana, I'll
tell you a little about how I was involved in it, in six stages:

A. A year in the military academy with the best possible instructors: Yigael
Yadin, Moshe Carmel and other professional people, learning about
topics like: communications, topography, heavy weaponry, aerial
coordination, tanks (don't forget that all this was in 1943 when we were
in the underground).

B. Two years of preparing the fighters (among them I recall Arik Sharon
from Kfar Malal) both physically and morally for the war with all the
Arab countries; many, many of them fell in the War of Independence.

C. Two years of expanding this work to the area from Tel-Aviv to Haifa,
hard work 24/7 under most difficult conditions.

D. One year as commander of Naphtali District: all the settlements and all
the corps, encompassing the older guard troops, field corps, Palmach
groups and infantry, Notrim and everyone's vehicles and weapons.

E. Two years in the War of Independence. Burdensome responsibility for
all those settlements on the home front and the sector of 27 km (as the
crow flies) on the battlefront, opposite the Iraqis who had captured an
attack artery from Megiddo up to and including Tul-Karem – an entire
Iraqi brigade with all its equipment, cannons and air fleet – and all of
them confronting one miserable, weaponless battalion because its best
rifles had been sent to the front in Jerusalem (the heart of the nation).
You should be aware that our Hagana underground was the biggest
underground army in history, because we got up to companies of 150
trained men, and we already had our own active industry for weapons
manufacture – luckily for us already when the war broke out. (By the
way, the British left us in a demonstrative manner, confident that we
would give up and beg them on our knees not to depart and leave us to
be slaughtered by the Arabs). We were already producing our own
grenades, Sten guns, and particularly, 2- and 8-inch mortars,
gunpowder, shells, etc. We had the nucleus of an air fleet, the Palyam
[naval branch of the Palmach, part of the Hagana] and even tanks,
which we brought out of the slicks, and the Davidka.

My battalion took up a defensive array in 12 military posts –
strongholds (some of them lined with sandbags and some drilled in
rocky ground). We withstood the Iraqis courageously, and day by day

49

grew stronger as we received modern weapons from the Soviets and
the Czechs.
F. After the war I prepared the battalion for reserve duty; by this time I had
under my command a battalion fortified with cannons and very effective
weapons. The battalion participated in the Sinai Campaign [1956] and
others, and I was one of the few commanders (of a battalion) who
completed his service at such an advanced age.

If I'm asked and can be convinced to divulge details, I'll tell you stories
another time about the German department (which almost kidnapped
Rommel), all of which I'll be recounting for this first time ever, to my grandson
with the keen ears and understanding heart; these are stories to be passed on
by word of mouth.

Love, Grandpa
Ein-Shemer, 14 Nov.1978

HAGANA AGAINST IRAQIS AND BRITISH

In the middle of August 1947 Fawzi al-Qawuqji, commander of the Arab
Salvation Army, issued a threat to wreak havoc upon anyone and anything
standing in his way. As the day of the United Nations (UN) vote drew near, the
Zionist leaders tried unsuccessfully to enter negotiations with the Arabs in
order to calm things down and reach a compromise with them. The Arabs
strove to stop immigration and demanded all of Palestine for themselves,
while the Yishuv [Jewish settlements of pre-state Israel] persistently upheld
the right of the Jewish people to immigrate to the Land of Israel and establish
a Jewish state.

Month after month the Jewish population in the Land suffered from
indiscriminate Arab attacks on the citizens. The Hagana could not afford to
respond to these provocations, at least not at that time, for two reasons. The
first was diplomatic: they needed to show the world that the young state was
oriented toward peace and that the Partition Plan was operable. The second
reason was the lack of ammunition for an unequivocal response that would
deter the everyday occurrence of attacks by Arab bands.

The Arab circles proposed to evacuate the women and children, to declare a
Jihad [holy war] and to consider Palestine a war zone. The mufti [Islamic
leader and judge] called for mass evacuation.

While there had been collaboration between the Yishuv and the British army
during World War II as long as the Near East was in peril, this collaboration

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was taken apart by the British as soon as the direct threat against them had
been lifted.

The only legal weapons were British ones, but Itzhak could not be sure of
them even though he had been given them generously, since the authorities
had the tendency to confiscate weapons in times of tension. In the final two
years before the British left, there was a fierce struggle in the Land of Israel
against British rule, which tried to enforce a naval siege against the Yishuv.
The British closely patrolled the coastline of the Land of Israel, using
airplanes, battleships and radar stations. Beginning in October 1945, they
would set out in pursuit with the intention of destroying the Hagana; the most
infamous incident was the siege on Kibbutz Yagur – the so-called Black
Sabbath. The Arabs benefited from sympathetic backing by the neighboring
countries, which could supply them with volunteers and equipment and
provide them with shelter at the time when the British siege blocked the
Yishuv and cut it off from the Jewish population in the Diaspora.

THE PALMACH

The Hagana forces in the Shomron area were composed of volunteers; only
the commanders were fully enlisted. Small units under the command of Itzhak
Shemi (who was the district commander) were trained to leave their defensive
positions and become familiar with the surrounding area. Offspring of settlers
and young people from the cities, from youth movements and high schools,
began to find their calling in serving as advance Hagana forces. They joined
the military night companies, field companies and firing companies. The
Palmach [Hebrew acronym for plugot makhatz – literally, "crushing
companies"] members were housed in kibbutzim and were under the
command of Itzhak Sadeh until the IDF was founded in 1948. The procedure
in the Palmach was two weeks of work and two weeks of training. This army
had to be created from A to Z, and this could be done only by people of
initiative who were original, imaginative trailblazers. Guarding in the area
demanded great courage, for survival under the hostile conditions could not
be taken for granted.

RECRUITING AND INSTRUCTING

The number of recruits grew. At this point Itzhak was filling the position
Eliyahu Golomb had intended for him: the role of educator who instills the
spirit of the pioneering generation in his men. And indeed, as Golomb had
known back in 1942, Itzhak was capable of wisely exploiting the massive
awakening that had taken hold of the young people in Israel and the Jewish
public in general. Joining the Hagana, taking courses, being appointed
commander in the central Galilee of the Gadna and serving as battalion
commander in the Alexandroni Brigade – in all of these he found the proper