Page 56 - big friday
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started asking for autographs from the signatories on the declaration. It could have
been a good ‘run’ for the pen, but I signed afterwards with Mr. Sharett's pen (he's the
"pen man", after all…).
D uring the ceremony I was sitting in the second row, on the right, next to one of the
religious members, and a conversation developed between us. There was a sense of
"making history," just as I had felt on November 29, when I was at the UN during
the vote on the Partition Plan. I was thinking all the time about the future, which I
imagined completely differently.
A fter the ceremony I went home (with a few friends), and we drank a toast: to our
freedom and theirs – in other words, that of the Arabs, too."
W e asked Mr. Vilner how he views the occasion today, and it was clear that he had
anticipated this question all along: "Speaking from an historical perspective – what I
did then I would do again today (even though certain newspapers claim otherwise:
that we regret it, that it was a one-time urge), but we think that the dangers that
threaten our existence today are the result of government policy, which does not
recognize the rights of the Arab nation in this land. This prevents any chance of peace
and of recognition by the Arab states in the State of Israel."
12. Dr. Herzl Vardi (Rosenblum): A minor "incident"
D r. Herzl Rosenblum, today editor of Yediot Aharonot newspaper, signed the Scroll
of Independence as representative of the Jewish State Party – a small party that broke
off from the Revisionist Party and later rejoined it.
Dr. Rosenblum was the only member of his party's world executive who was in the
country at the time, and since direct contact with overseas had been cut off, he was
forced to decide on his own whether he should participate in the ceremony of the
declaration of the state. Two members of his party, Mr. Zvi Segal and Dr. Ben-Zion
Sternberg, decided to take this step together with him.
Dr. Rosenblum relates, "In the days prior to the declaration ceremony we were busy
with frequent meetings (of the People's Council) at the JNF building on Shapira
Street in Tel Aviv. Just before the ceremony, too, there was a meeting that ended at
about 3pm. We drove in a long convoy of cars along Dizengoff Street and Rothschild
Boulevard, up to the museum. The square near the building was full of people and
the 'new' police led us into the hall. We heard the text of the declaration that was read
out hastily by Mr. Ben-Gurion. He seemed afraid that we wouldn't manage to finish
the ceremony; that the Arab offensive would catch us in the middle. After the blessing
of "Shehehiyanu" by Rabbi Fishman-Maimon, we went up to sign our names. At that
moment I was particularly struck by the unity amongst us. All party differences
disappeared, and even the Communists were moved by the blessing. Everyone was
very emotional, and my own emotion found expression in a small incident: I usually
54 The Friday That Changed Destiny
been a good ‘run’ for the pen, but I signed afterwards with Mr. Sharett's pen (he's the
"pen man", after all…).
D uring the ceremony I was sitting in the second row, on the right, next to one of the
religious members, and a conversation developed between us. There was a sense of
"making history," just as I had felt on November 29, when I was at the UN during
the vote on the Partition Plan. I was thinking all the time about the future, which I
imagined completely differently.
A fter the ceremony I went home (with a few friends), and we drank a toast: to our
freedom and theirs – in other words, that of the Arabs, too."
W e asked Mr. Vilner how he views the occasion today, and it was clear that he had
anticipated this question all along: "Speaking from an historical perspective – what I
did then I would do again today (even though certain newspapers claim otherwise:
that we regret it, that it was a one-time urge), but we think that the dangers that
threaten our existence today are the result of government policy, which does not
recognize the rights of the Arab nation in this land. This prevents any chance of peace
and of recognition by the Arab states in the State of Israel."
12. Dr. Herzl Vardi (Rosenblum): A minor "incident"
D r. Herzl Rosenblum, today editor of Yediot Aharonot newspaper, signed the Scroll
of Independence as representative of the Jewish State Party – a small party that broke
off from the Revisionist Party and later rejoined it.
Dr. Rosenblum was the only member of his party's world executive who was in the
country at the time, and since direct contact with overseas had been cut off, he was
forced to decide on his own whether he should participate in the ceremony of the
declaration of the state. Two members of his party, Mr. Zvi Segal and Dr. Ben-Zion
Sternberg, decided to take this step together with him.
Dr. Rosenblum relates, "In the days prior to the declaration ceremony we were busy
with frequent meetings (of the People's Council) at the JNF building on Shapira
Street in Tel Aviv. Just before the ceremony, too, there was a meeting that ended at
about 3pm. We drove in a long convoy of cars along Dizengoff Street and Rothschild
Boulevard, up to the museum. The square near the building was full of people and
the 'new' police led us into the hall. We heard the text of the declaration that was read
out hastily by Mr. Ben-Gurion. He seemed afraid that we wouldn't manage to finish
the ceremony; that the Arab offensive would catch us in the middle. After the blessing
of "Shehehiyanu" by Rabbi Fishman-Maimon, we went up to sign our names. At that
moment I was particularly struck by the unity amongst us. All party differences
disappeared, and even the Communists were moved by the blessing. Everyone was
very emotional, and my own emotion found expression in a small incident: I usually
54 The Friday That Changed Destiny
