In Honor of Israel’s Independence Day
The days between Holocaust Memorial Day, the Memorial Day of Remembrance for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism and Independence Day, allow us to reflect and commemorate those who have paved the way to the foundation of the State of Israel.
Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present and Future – Ideas for the Yom Ha’atzmaut season, 5775!
Many museums and sites are dedicated to Israeli pioneers and give us a glimpse into their world and their heritage.
Hashomer Museum – Kfar Giladi:
In 1907, a group of Olim who arrived in Israel in the second wave of aliya, Israeli pioneers gathered together in Jaffa and decided to open a small military underground organization called “Bar Giora” (so named for the warriors who fought the Roman Empire during the 2nd Temple Era). Within a couple of years, this group of young people challenged the status quos and brought about a change of thinking. They realized that they need to expand the organization, which lead to the foundation of “Hashomer” – “The Guard”, in Hebrew. The organization’s purpose was to build a large-scale, institutionalized security organization designed to keep and protect the Land of Israel.
The museum is located in Kibbutz Kfar Giladi, just north Kiryat Shmona in the Upper Galilee. Sitting in the foothills of the Naftali Mountains, there is a breathtaking view of the Hula Valley and on the mountain side, it is overlooked by the Golan Heights and Israel’s tallest mountain, Mount Hermon.
The new permanent exhibition display was renewed in 2008 by the Ministry of Defense in collaboration with museum curators, commemorating 100 years since the founding of the Shomer–-Bar Giyora Organization by Israeli pioneers.
The exhibition is designed in a pioneering manner and is accompanied by an audio-visual show. The exhibition is primarily designed and geared for young adults and includes photographs, a multi-media presentation and videos, as well as art from the pioneers’ time period, depicting the pioneers.
The museum focuses on more than just the security angle of “Hashomer”, but also shows the wider context of the Bar Giora and Hashomer organizations’ actions to settle and rebuild the Jewish Homeland. It also discusses the transformation of society from one where women who emigrated to Israel from Russia, advocated the equality of women and fought for their place in the organization as combatant.
Hashomer and its pioneer warriors faced enormous challenges. and Visitors stand in awe of the how well the organization was run, and most importantly learn about the bravery and valor of the pioneers whose dream it was to rebuild the Jewish Homeland after 2000 years in the Diaspora. Hashomer laid the foundations upon which the IDF and the State of Israel were built.
Special attention is also give to the hero, Joseph Trumpeldor.The rifle given to him by the Organization Guard to protect Tel-Hai is on display.
Hashomer Museum, Kfar Giladi, DN Upper Galilee
Email: hashomer_museum@mod.gov.il
Museum of the Underground Prisoners – Acre (Akko)
The Underground Prisoners Museum, built in the second half of the 18th century is a fortress – including a moat! – located in Old Akko. During the Ottoman rule, it was used as the palace of the
ruler of the region; during the British Mandate, it served as a prison against the underground Israeli pioneer prisoners of the Irgun, Lehi and Haganah.
In this prison gallows, the British hung nine warriors and nine others died while coming to release their prison comrades in the great prison escape.
Advanced booking is required and the visit takes about 90 minutes.
Address: Hahaganah 10, Old Acre
Email: Hmakko_Museum@mod.gov.il
Etzel Museum – Tel Aviv
The story focuses on the emerging underground defense and its reprisals against the Arab rioters, as well as the fight against the British Mandate which prevented the immigration of Jews to Israel.
The main exhibition profiles the battle for Jaffa during the War of Independence in 1948, accompanied by an audio-visual presentation, views and press clippings, etc. of the period and includes a computerized exhibit.
The museum has a memorial display honoring 41 Irgun fighters who were killed in the campaign to liberate Jaffa.
Nahum Goldmann Street 2, Tel Aviv (Charles Clore Garden)
Email: Etzel_museum@mod.gov.il
The Palmach Museum
The Palmach Museum is an experiential museum, describing the Palmach legacy in an innovative and “live” presentation of the stories of individuals Israeli pioneers and groups.
There are no displays or documents, but rather an account of a fascinating personal story accompanied by three-dimensional decor, films and various effects incorporating documentary materials. The visit correlates with the structure of the presentation, set out as a series of events and symbolizing the Palmach team spirit.
The tour commences and ends in the memorial hall for Palmach warriors who died fighting for establishment of the State of Israel. The tour is by appointment only and lasts about 90 minutes.
Address: Levanon Street 10, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv
Email: palmach_museum@mod.gov.il
Museum of the Underground Prisoners – Jerusalem
During the British Mandate in Israel, the building was converted to the central prison of the mandate.
From 1920-1948 this building imprisoned hundreds of inmates from the Haganah, Irgun and Lehi underground defense forces, who were arrested for the “crimes” such as protecting Jews in Israel and fighting for Jewish immigration and statehood.
The museum is actually a reconstruction of the prison and contains: Inmates’ rooms, a dungeon and torture chambers and a room that was converted into the gallows. It has a synagogue that served the prisoners, craft workshops and other rooms for various uses. There is also a display of “hopes and disappointments”, which actually illustrates the struggle of the underground in the White Paper” and the reasons for the struggle. There is also a display of crafts made by prisoners and prisoners in the underground during the British mandate .
The tour and the movies focus on the number of prisoners and prisoners of Etzel, Haganah and Lehi defense undergrounds and tells their story .
Address: Underground Prisoners Museum (Jerusalem ) in the Russian Compound, Jerusalem,
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[…] These are sites which can be visited throughout the year. (They’re not just for Independence Day and Yom Yerushalayim!) They are important parts of the “Israel experience” and an interesting and important source of information for any…. […]