Page 126 - big friday
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Lorna Wingate's address at the Histadrut gathering
O n the Sabbath eve a mass gathering was held by the Haifa Workers' Council at the "Ora"
hall, to mark the declaration of the state. A large audience listened to the addresses, which
were broadcast with speakers on Herzl and Nordau Streets. Speakers included Neeman,
Aba Hushi, and Y. Wosczina.
L orna Wingate was received at the meeting with wild applause. N. Mirsky, in presenting
the guest, noted that Orde Wingate had played a great part in our victories. Lorna started
out in Hebrew, and then immediately reverted to English. She said: "I bring greetings to
the newborn. I cannot bring tanks and weapons to the front, but I have brought something
more important than ammunition and equipment: my heart, and the hearts of all who
wish your state honor and success. I hope that the Jewish People will bring redemption
and liberation not only for Israel, but for the entire world and all of humanity."
The gathering concluded with the singing of HaTikva.
Al HaMishmar, May 16, 1948
A State is Born
An excerpt from a diary written in the colony of Rehovot during the War
of Independence by a 13-year old boy. The excerpt describes the feelings
and events on that historic Friday.
Mordecai Naor
5th Iyar, May 14
Today started off in a routine manner, but ended in a very un-routine way. In the morning
there was the usual argument with Haimush, the English teacher. He claimed that if we
continued studying English with our usual lack of enthusiasm, we would never master the
language.
Boaz raised his hand, and asked: "Why learn English at all, if the British are leaving the
country today anyway?"
H aimush said that one thing had nothing to do with the other. "The British are leaving,
124 The Friday That Changed Destiny
O n the Sabbath eve a mass gathering was held by the Haifa Workers' Council at the "Ora"
hall, to mark the declaration of the state. A large audience listened to the addresses, which
were broadcast with speakers on Herzl and Nordau Streets. Speakers included Neeman,
Aba Hushi, and Y. Wosczina.
L orna Wingate was received at the meeting with wild applause. N. Mirsky, in presenting
the guest, noted that Orde Wingate had played a great part in our victories. Lorna started
out in Hebrew, and then immediately reverted to English. She said: "I bring greetings to
the newborn. I cannot bring tanks and weapons to the front, but I have brought something
more important than ammunition and equipment: my heart, and the hearts of all who
wish your state honor and success. I hope that the Jewish People will bring redemption
and liberation not only for Israel, but for the entire world and all of humanity."
The gathering concluded with the singing of HaTikva.
Al HaMishmar, May 16, 1948
A State is Born
An excerpt from a diary written in the colony of Rehovot during the War
of Independence by a 13-year old boy. The excerpt describes the feelings
and events on that historic Friday.
Mordecai Naor
5th Iyar, May 14
Today started off in a routine manner, but ended in a very un-routine way. In the morning
there was the usual argument with Haimush, the English teacher. He claimed that if we
continued studying English with our usual lack of enthusiasm, we would never master the
language.
Boaz raised his hand, and asked: "Why learn English at all, if the British are leaving the
country today anyway?"
H aimush said that one thing had nothing to do with the other. "The British are leaving,
124 The Friday That Changed Destiny