Page 142 - ראשונים להעז
P. 142
Orde Charles Wingate –
Bible, the Jezreel Valley, Courage and Pioneering
It seems that the multifaceted personality of Major-General Orde Charles
Wingate incorporated the factors that produce a unique figure: knowledge and love
of the Bible, restoration of the Jezreel Valley as a dream come true and the courage
to dream and to be pioneer in all senses of the word. These earned him a central
place in 1930s Palestine.
In many respects, this extraordinary man and his unique personality affect us to
this day. His arrival on the scene and his activity in the local arena, although brief,
left a deep impression and remain relevant today, decades after Wingate’s departure
from Israel and his death in the forests on the India-Burma border in 1944.
Even now, so many years later, when the culture of the people and the State of
Israel are well-developed and the security forces have adapted to changing times,
Wingate continues to watch over us as an influential spiritual teacher and leader,
guiding our way in all matters that involve innovative, “out of the box” thinking.
The book First to Dare, based on the research of Superintendent Shlomi Chetrit
of the Israel Police, presents another chapter in the story of Wingate in the land of
Israel, in addition to dozens of books and studies that have been written about him.
In the yishuv (the Jewish community of pre-state Palestine), Wingate was known
as “the Friend.” Although he was an unusual character, the general public, the
Haganah (the forerunner of the IDF) and the authorities all accepted and embraced
him. Even then, Wingate was recognized as one of us, and he played a part in
critical points in the heritage of the country and the people. It was as though an
invisible force sent him here to take part in shaping and building something that
would be of great importance to the coming generations.
Against this background, it is our duty to tell the story of “the Friend,” and we
do so with the aim of reaching the truth and imparting the legacy of his influence
and his contribution, motivated by values, a pioneering spirit, and courage, to the
younger generation.
First to Dare was published in cooperation with the Beit Shturman Museum at
Ein Harod and the Israel Police by the Yehuda Dekel Library at the Council for
Conservation of Heritage Sites in Israel, and courtesy of the Dekel family and the
chair of the library, Boaz Dekel. Thanks to their generous support, we publish this
valuable addition to the long list of publications, books and research studies that
have been produced within this framework.
Omri Shalmon
CEO
Bible, the Jezreel Valley, Courage and Pioneering
It seems that the multifaceted personality of Major-General Orde Charles
Wingate incorporated the factors that produce a unique figure: knowledge and love
of the Bible, restoration of the Jezreel Valley as a dream come true and the courage
to dream and to be pioneer in all senses of the word. These earned him a central
place in 1930s Palestine.
In many respects, this extraordinary man and his unique personality affect us to
this day. His arrival on the scene and his activity in the local arena, although brief,
left a deep impression and remain relevant today, decades after Wingate’s departure
from Israel and his death in the forests on the India-Burma border in 1944.
Even now, so many years later, when the culture of the people and the State of
Israel are well-developed and the security forces have adapted to changing times,
Wingate continues to watch over us as an influential spiritual teacher and leader,
guiding our way in all matters that involve innovative, “out of the box” thinking.
The book First to Dare, based on the research of Superintendent Shlomi Chetrit
of the Israel Police, presents another chapter in the story of Wingate in the land of
Israel, in addition to dozens of books and studies that have been written about him.
In the yishuv (the Jewish community of pre-state Palestine), Wingate was known
as “the Friend.” Although he was an unusual character, the general public, the
Haganah (the forerunner of the IDF) and the authorities all accepted and embraced
him. Even then, Wingate was recognized as one of us, and he played a part in
critical points in the heritage of the country and the people. It was as though an
invisible force sent him here to take part in shaping and building something that
would be of great importance to the coming generations.
Against this background, it is our duty to tell the story of “the Friend,” and we
do so with the aim of reaching the truth and imparting the legacy of his influence
and his contribution, motivated by values, a pioneering spirit, and courage, to the
younger generation.
First to Dare was published in cooperation with the Beit Shturman Museum at
Ein Harod and the Israel Police by the Yehuda Dekel Library at the Council for
Conservation of Heritage Sites in Israel, and courtesy of the Dekel family and the
chair of the library, Boaz Dekel. Thanks to their generous support, we publish this
valuable addition to the long list of publications, books and research studies that
have been produced within this framework.
Omri Shalmon
CEO
