Page 85 - big friday
P. 85
symbols, which is more easily impressed on one's memory. We wanted everything –
flags, words, external pomp – but it was not provided. We were sorry; the leaders of the
ceremony must surely have been sorry, too. But it is better that none of this was provided.
It is good that there was modesty, even unintentional modesty.
It is good that the State of Israel arose without speeches. In silence.
***
It was an occasion of heavy solemnity. Ben-Gurion read out the Founding Charter,
slowly. Here and there a word in a sentence was emphasized: "…this historic and traditional
link… ancient homeland… at the summons of the spiritual father of the Jewish State… its
natural right… we call upon the nations…" Afterwards, with highly emphasized slowness:
"We appeal - in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months - to the
Arabs…". And then we knew through reason, but did not yet feel – and it will surely take
much time until we feel – that at those moments a revolution in the life of the nation had
taken place before our eyes, for these words concluded what Jewish weapons had started;
with these words the order in the land and the order of our lives in it were turned upside
down. For we had reached both the pinnacle of danger and the pinnacle of opportunity.
As evening came, Tel Aviv sank into darkness. The streets did not empty out. People at
home focused on their controlled pain and joy. In the night the sound of the radio broke
through the darkness, and the waves bore the words of Lorna Wingate, calling out from
Haifa to the spirit of her husband, our great friend: "We have all presented ourselves here
at your orders… the slingshot. Against tanks…."
And at dawn Tel Aviv awoke to the thunder of the first bombs. The city awoke – as
always – strong, brave, a city that is not frightened by its enemies; a city that relies only on
its own power. Enemy planes were circling in its skies, but our children were playing in
its streets and mothers were pushing their infants' carriages. Neither side thought about
this as a first day for the citizens of the State of Israel. It was a day like any other. Without
pathos. Without external rejoicing. But with faith, as always."
HaBoker, May 16, 1948
A State is Born 83
flags, words, external pomp – but it was not provided. We were sorry; the leaders of the
ceremony must surely have been sorry, too. But it is better that none of this was provided.
It is good that there was modesty, even unintentional modesty.
It is good that the State of Israel arose without speeches. In silence.
***
It was an occasion of heavy solemnity. Ben-Gurion read out the Founding Charter,
slowly. Here and there a word in a sentence was emphasized: "…this historic and traditional
link… ancient homeland… at the summons of the spiritual father of the Jewish State… its
natural right… we call upon the nations…" Afterwards, with highly emphasized slowness:
"We appeal - in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months - to the
Arabs…". And then we knew through reason, but did not yet feel – and it will surely take
much time until we feel – that at those moments a revolution in the life of the nation had
taken place before our eyes, for these words concluded what Jewish weapons had started;
with these words the order in the land and the order of our lives in it were turned upside
down. For we had reached both the pinnacle of danger and the pinnacle of opportunity.
As evening came, Tel Aviv sank into darkness. The streets did not empty out. People at
home focused on their controlled pain and joy. In the night the sound of the radio broke
through the darkness, and the waves bore the words of Lorna Wingate, calling out from
Haifa to the spirit of her husband, our great friend: "We have all presented ourselves here
at your orders… the slingshot. Against tanks…."
And at dawn Tel Aviv awoke to the thunder of the first bombs. The city awoke – as
always – strong, brave, a city that is not frightened by its enemies; a city that relies only on
its own power. Enemy planes were circling in its skies, but our children were playing in
its streets and mothers were pushing their infants' carriages. Neither side thought about
this as a first day for the citizens of the State of Israel. It was a day like any other. Without
pathos. Without external rejoicing. But with faith, as always."
HaBoker, May 16, 1948
A State is Born 83
