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Haifa Workers' Council, and the various parties. The general theme was independence,
but other topics were also discussed.
N o meetings or lectures were organized on Friday night in the besieged Jerusalem,
Instead, residents were asked to help with fortifications. Among those who heeded the
call was the Chief Sephardi Rabbi, Rabbi Ben-Tzion Hai Uziel. The Jerusalem commander
of the Hagana, David Shaltiel, who circulated amongst the frontlines, was surprised to
encounter the rabbi, spade in hand. He asked him, "Honored rabbi – do you really need
to trouble yourself to aid in the fortifications of the city?" To which Rabbi Uziel answered,
"First of all, every piece of ground that is dug brings the redemption closer. Secondly, I
do not wish the religious public to think that they are being coerced, heaven forefend, to
labor on the Sabbath. I want to show that fortification works are not a desecration of the
Sabbath, heaven forefend, but rather a sanctification of the Sabbath."
On the Sabbath – the first 1,000 legal immigrants
S aturday, 6th Iyar 5708 (May 15, 1948) was a clear day. Thousands attended synagogues
in the cities, colonies and workers' settlements and offered prayers for the welfare and
success of the new state. Worshippers in Tel Aviv were already aware that the Reading
power station and the adjacent airport (today – Sde Dov) had been bombed before dawn.
Hundreds made their way on the Sabbath to the recruitment bureaus, which were
operational seven days a week. The Chief Rabbinate had approved their activity on the
Sabbath, owing to considerations of saving lives, just as this body had approved works that
were essential for defense. Those who were recruited were immediately taken to Camp
Yona (where Independence Park stands today). The new recruits' first task was to dig
trenches for defense against shelling – which indeed happened, another three times, that
same day.
A t the Tel Aviv Museum, which had entered history just the previous day, things were
back to normal. Pictures that had been taken down and replaced for the ceremony of
the proclamation of the state were now returned to their places. On Saturday at 10am
the museum opened its doors and visitors could visit any of three exhibitions: on the
ground floor there were paintings by Yaakov Wexler; on the second floor there were "Large
Reproductions of French Art"; while the "graphic cabinet" displayed "Rouault Pages".
T he newspapers of Friday, May 14, had informed those interested that on Saturday at
11am Mrs. Luria would lead a tour of the museum.
The Tel Aviv port was hectic. For the first time, immigrant ships were arriving that had
not been stopped by the British, and this was a significant and encouraging change. Some
1,000 immigrants disembarked from three ships: one had come from France via Italy,
while the other two had brought previously illegal immigrants who had now been released
from Cyprus. The arrivals were greeted with a celebratory ceremony held at the port,
conducted with haste for fear of an Egyptian bombardment.
Of the arrivals, 700 were sent to immigrant camps while the other 300, all youngsters,
180 The Friday That Changed Destiny
but other topics were also discussed.
N o meetings or lectures were organized on Friday night in the besieged Jerusalem,
Instead, residents were asked to help with fortifications. Among those who heeded the
call was the Chief Sephardi Rabbi, Rabbi Ben-Tzion Hai Uziel. The Jerusalem commander
of the Hagana, David Shaltiel, who circulated amongst the frontlines, was surprised to
encounter the rabbi, spade in hand. He asked him, "Honored rabbi – do you really need
to trouble yourself to aid in the fortifications of the city?" To which Rabbi Uziel answered,
"First of all, every piece of ground that is dug brings the redemption closer. Secondly, I
do not wish the religious public to think that they are being coerced, heaven forefend, to
labor on the Sabbath. I want to show that fortification works are not a desecration of the
Sabbath, heaven forefend, but rather a sanctification of the Sabbath."
On the Sabbath – the first 1,000 legal immigrants
S aturday, 6th Iyar 5708 (May 15, 1948) was a clear day. Thousands attended synagogues
in the cities, colonies and workers' settlements and offered prayers for the welfare and
success of the new state. Worshippers in Tel Aviv were already aware that the Reading
power station and the adjacent airport (today – Sde Dov) had been bombed before dawn.
Hundreds made their way on the Sabbath to the recruitment bureaus, which were
operational seven days a week. The Chief Rabbinate had approved their activity on the
Sabbath, owing to considerations of saving lives, just as this body had approved works that
were essential for defense. Those who were recruited were immediately taken to Camp
Yona (where Independence Park stands today). The new recruits' first task was to dig
trenches for defense against shelling – which indeed happened, another three times, that
same day.
A t the Tel Aviv Museum, which had entered history just the previous day, things were
back to normal. Pictures that had been taken down and replaced for the ceremony of
the proclamation of the state were now returned to their places. On Saturday at 10am
the museum opened its doors and visitors could visit any of three exhibitions: on the
ground floor there were paintings by Yaakov Wexler; on the second floor there were "Large
Reproductions of French Art"; while the "graphic cabinet" displayed "Rouault Pages".
T he newspapers of Friday, May 14, had informed those interested that on Saturday at
11am Mrs. Luria would lead a tour of the museum.
The Tel Aviv port was hectic. For the first time, immigrant ships were arriving that had
not been stopped by the British, and this was a significant and encouraging change. Some
1,000 immigrants disembarked from three ships: one had come from France via Italy,
while the other two had brought previously illegal immigrants who had now been released
from Cyprus. The arrivals were greeted with a celebratory ceremony held at the port,
conducted with haste for fear of an Egyptian bombardment.
Of the arrivals, 700 were sent to immigrant camps while the other 300, all youngsters,
180 The Friday That Changed Destiny
