Nostalgia Sunday – Hagana Archive 1947-8

April 26, 2009 - 11:44 PM by Rachel Neiman · Leave a Comment
Filed under: General, History and Culture, Israeliness, Nostalgia Sunday, War 

The Ministry of Defense’s Hagana Photo Archive is an online treasure trove of the State of Israel’s history from the people who defended it. The collection is so rich, it’s hard to make a selection. Here are a few gems in honor of both Memorial Day for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers, which begins Monday night, and Israel Independence Day, which commences on Tuesday.

This image, from Mandatory Palestine, is of the illegal immigration ship, the Chaim Arlozorov, captured by British soldiers.
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The British army withdraws from Palestine.
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The tense moments as the UN voted on the resolution to establish a Jewish State.
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The Jewish settlement comes under attack and the War of Independence begins. This is Jerusalem under mortar attack:
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Jerusalem blockaded.
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The conquest of Jerusalem’s German Colony by the Hagana. (The militia was later consolidated into the Israel Defense Forces).
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Tel Aviv celebrates the establishment of the Jewish State.
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This selection doesn’t begin to represent the amazing collection of photos, dating back to 1880, that exist in the Hagana Photo Archive. For anyone interested in Israel’s history, it’s a must-see.

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In praise of dry toast

October 19, 2008 - 2:55 PM by David · 2 Comments
Filed under: Food, General, History and Culture, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life 

cholent-s.jpg There’s nothing quite as daunting for immigrants to Israel from North America as going to the home of the Israeli parents of your daughter’s significant other.

Sure, after 23 years here, I feel as Israeli as the next Dudu, but there’s something about those natives born here from ethnic origins like – Iraq for instance – that’s just sooo Israeli, that I couldn’t even begin to approach it.

We’d already met Y’s parents on a couple occasions, once when we hosted them for a Yom Ha’atzmaut barbecue, and a couple times at the airport dropping off and picking up the young couple leaving and arriving from a two-week adventure in the US.

But this was the first time we were going to their home – on their turf, with their customs. It felt a little like the boyfriend’s family in My Big Fat Greek Wedding when they’re invited to meet the extended Greek clan.

Y’s parents weren’t barbecuing a sheep on the front lawn, but they were vivacious, offering tons of delicacies, and there were lots of them – brothers, babies, girlfriends and even a feisty grandmother, who probably had fought Arabs in the War of Independence with her bare hands.

I always thought we were a pretty upbeat, vivacious family of our own, but after spending an afternoon with Y’s family, I began to feel like Ian Miller’s ‘dry toast’ family.

bundt.jpgWhen the heaping platefuls of Iraqi hamin (cholent) was passed around, I received the honor of getting a big calf’s leg. The father said ‘you’ll love it, the meat is so tender’. Well, it felt a lot like fat, or jelly, to me. So I pretended to move it around on the plate and take a stab or two at it, before leaving it on the side with a defeated look on my face.

I guess it’s now our turn to invite them over next time. Maybe we’ll make a nice bundt cake…

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