Page 176 - big friday
P. 176
On to Battle. Forward to Victory
S aturday night, May 15, 1948
A ddress broadcast on the Etzel radio station by the organization's
commander, a day after the establishment of the state.
M enachem Begin
C itizens of the Hebrew Homeland, Soldiers of Israel, Hebrew Youth, Sisters and
Brothers in Zion!
A fter many years of underground warfare, years of persecution and moral and physical
suffering, the rebels against the oppressors stand before you, with a blessing of thanks
on their lips and a prayer in their hearts. The blessing is the age-old blessing with which
our fathers and our forefathers have always greeted Holy Days. It was with this blessing
that they used to taste any fruit for the first time in the season. Today is truly a holiday, a
Holy Day, and a new fruit lies before our very eyes. The Hebrew Revolt of 1944-1948 has
been blessed with success - the first Hebrew revolt since the Hasmonean insurrection that
has ended in victory. The rule of oppression of Britain in our country has been beaten,
uprooted; it has crumbled and been dispersed. The State of Israel has arisen in bloody
battle. The highway for the mass return to Zion has been cast up. The foundation has
been laid - but only the foundation - for true independence. One phase of the battle for
freedom, for the return of the entire People of Israel to its homeland, for the restoration of
the whole Land of Israel to its God-covenanted owners, has ended. But only one phase. We
should recall that this event has occurred after 70 generations of dispersion and unending
wandering of an unarmed people and after a period of almost total destruction of the
Jew as Jew. If we remember that once again the few overcame the many that rose up to
destroy Israel and it was victorious, thus, although our suffering is not yet over, it is our
right and our obligation to offer thanks to the Rock and Redeemer of Israel for all the
miracles that have been done this day, as in those times. We therefore can say with a full
heart and soul on this first day of our liberation from the British occupier: Blessed is He
Who has sustained us and enabled us to have reached this time.The State of Israel has
arisen. And it has arisen “only thus”: through blood, through fire, with a mighty hand and
an outstretched arm, with suffering and with sacrifice. It could not have been otherwise.
And yet, even before our state is able to establish its normal governing institutions, it
is compelled to fight, or rather, to continue to fight satanic enemies and blood-thirsty
mercenaries, on land, in the air and on the sea.
In these circumstances, the warning sounded by the philosopher-president Thomas
174 The Friday That Changed Destiny
S aturday night, May 15, 1948
A ddress broadcast on the Etzel radio station by the organization's
commander, a day after the establishment of the state.
M enachem Begin
C itizens of the Hebrew Homeland, Soldiers of Israel, Hebrew Youth, Sisters and
Brothers in Zion!
A fter many years of underground warfare, years of persecution and moral and physical
suffering, the rebels against the oppressors stand before you, with a blessing of thanks
on their lips and a prayer in their hearts. The blessing is the age-old blessing with which
our fathers and our forefathers have always greeted Holy Days. It was with this blessing
that they used to taste any fruit for the first time in the season. Today is truly a holiday, a
Holy Day, and a new fruit lies before our very eyes. The Hebrew Revolt of 1944-1948 has
been blessed with success - the first Hebrew revolt since the Hasmonean insurrection that
has ended in victory. The rule of oppression of Britain in our country has been beaten,
uprooted; it has crumbled and been dispersed. The State of Israel has arisen in bloody
battle. The highway for the mass return to Zion has been cast up. The foundation has
been laid - but only the foundation - for true independence. One phase of the battle for
freedom, for the return of the entire People of Israel to its homeland, for the restoration of
the whole Land of Israel to its God-covenanted owners, has ended. But only one phase. We
should recall that this event has occurred after 70 generations of dispersion and unending
wandering of an unarmed people and after a period of almost total destruction of the
Jew as Jew. If we remember that once again the few overcame the many that rose up to
destroy Israel and it was victorious, thus, although our suffering is not yet over, it is our
right and our obligation to offer thanks to the Rock and Redeemer of Israel for all the
miracles that have been done this day, as in those times. We therefore can say with a full
heart and soul on this first day of our liberation from the British occupier: Blessed is He
Who has sustained us and enabled us to have reached this time.The State of Israel has
arisen. And it has arisen “only thus”: through blood, through fire, with a mighty hand and
an outstretched arm, with suffering and with sacrifice. It could not have been otherwise.
And yet, even before our state is able to establish its normal governing institutions, it
is compelled to fight, or rather, to continue to fight satanic enemies and blood-thirsty
mercenaries, on land, in the air and on the sea.
In these circumstances, the warning sounded by the philosopher-president Thomas
174 The Friday That Changed Destiny
