AN AMERICAN JEW IN ISRAEL with ZIPPORAH PORATHOnline Learning for Jewish Educators

JWA documents Jewish women's stories, elevates their voices, and inspires them to be agents of change.

JWA documents Jewish women's stories, elevates their voices, and inspires them to be agents of change.

When they consider historical stories and role models, students begin to

think about who they want to be and what impact they want to have on the

world.

Who is this?What did she do?Why did she do it?

Who am I?What do I do?

What do I want to do?

Why do I do it?

TWERSKY AWARD

Win $2,500 plus $500 for your school or program

For educators working with 6-12 grade students

Submit an original lesson that creatively uses primary sources

Demonstrate commitment to integrating the stories and voices of Jewish women

Deadline is May 12, 2014

http://jwa.org/twersky 2012 Winner Allyson Mattanah created a

lesson that combined Purim with stories of Jewish women labor activists

GOALS

Hear a first-hand account of Zippy’s experience in Israel/Palestine during that “fateful year” of Israel’s independence.

Examine the role that Zippy’s letters and other primary sources (letters, personal stories, and photographs) can play in teaching about Israel’s independence and history in general.

GO & LEARNLesson Plans for Youth, Families, and Adults

http://jwa.org/teach/golearn

Map of British Mandated Palestine

and Transjordan, 1923-1948.

Map source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/mandate2.html

The Plan for the Partition of

Palestine, approved by the United

Nations, November 29th 1947, paving

the way for the establishment of

the State of Israel.

Map source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UN_Partition_Plan_For_Palestine_1947.svg

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Zipporah PorathNee Borowsky. Portrait, 1947. Courtesy of Zippy Porath.

Announcement of ZOA Scholarship winner, Zippy Borowsky, leaving for Palestine. Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Borowsky family bids Zippy farewell.Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Zippy (center) and fellow passengers on the sun deck of the "Marine Jumper" en route to Eretz

Yisrael (The Land of Israel, then called Palestine).

Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Palestine Government ID Card, Jerusalem District,issued 23 November 1947.

Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Jerusalem November 30, 1947

Sunday morning , 11:00 a.m.

Dearest Mother, Dad and Naomi,

I walked in a semi-daze through the crowds of happy faces, through the deafening singing, "David, Melech Yisrael, Chai, Chai ve Kayam" [David, King of Israel, Lives, Lives and Exists], past the British tanks and jeeps piled high with pyramids of flag-waving, cheering children. I dodged motor cycles, wagons, cars and trucks which were racing madly up and down King George Street, missing each other miraculously, their running boards and headlights overflowing with layer upon layer of elated happy people. I pushed my way past the crying, kissing tumultuous crowds and the exultant shouts of "Mazal Tov" and came back to the quiet of my room ....to try to share with you this never to be forgotten night (Nov. 29, 1947).

…..Rumor had it that voting at the UN on the Partition Plan would probably be postponed for another day. But, at about 11:00 p.m. there was a knock on the door…”The voting's tonight."… We sat tensely round the battered radio for what seemed like hours while vain attempts were made to get clear reception from Lake Success. Finally, we got through just as the announcement of the majority vote was made: thirty-three in favor, thirteen against and ten abstentions.

Full text: http://jwa.org/media/letter-from-jerusalem-november-30-1947

Rumor had it that Ben-Gurion had just arrived from Tel Aviv and would make a personal appearance. Sure enough, there he was, standing on the balcony of the Sochnut building. He looked slowly and solemnly around him -- to the roof tops crammed with people, to the throngs that stood solid in the courtyard below him. He raised his hand: an utter silence waited for his words. "Ashreynu sheh zachinu la yom ha zeh. " [Blessed are we who have been privileged to witness this day.] He concluded with "Tchi ha Medina ha Ivrith," [Long Live the Hebrew State …and called for Hatikvah [The Zionist Anthem]. A solemn chant rose from all sides. The moment was too big for our feelings. There were few dry eyes and few steady voices. Ben-Gurion tossed his head back proudly, tenderly touched the flag that hung from the railing and charged the air with electricity when he shouted defiantly, "WE ARE A FREE PEOPLE."

How I wished you could have heard his words and been here for this memorable night and never to be forgotten morning. It was too unbelievable. …All the cafes and wine shops had flung open their doors -- drinks on the house. Flags were hoisted everywhere and shopkeepers had decorated their windows with photos of Theodor Herzl, whose words have inspired and sustained Zionists until this day, "If you will it, it is no dream." Now that it was happening, it seemed more than ever like a dream. My heart was bursting from joy.

Love, Zippy

Full text: http://jwa.org/media/letter-from-jerusalem-november-30-1947

American students at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem(Zippy Borowsky, second from left) on November 30, 1947, holding newspapers announcing the UN vote of approval of

the partition of Palestine, that paved the way for the establishment of the State of Israel.

Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Left: Zippy Borowsky (top, center), camp nurse for the Haganah's artillery unit, comprising all of 3 "tanks", in April 1948.

Right: Magen David Adom First Aid armband (no.347) and I.D. Card issued to Zipporah Borowsky by the Jerusalem District Volunteer Regiment, December 1947.

Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Top center: Zippy with fellow Haganah fighters.

Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Zippy Borowsky (center), practicing "aim, fire" with other Haganah fighters.

Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Ben-Yehuda Street bombing (February 1948), where Haganah medic Zippy Borowsky set up a makeshift first-aid station to

tend the wounded. Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Left: A food convoy en route to besieged Jerusalem. Right: Distribution of water during the siege.

Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Headline in the Palestine Post (now

Jerusalem Post) on May 16, 1948.

Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Above: Zippy, camp nurse at the Israel Air Force Training

Base, Haifa Bay.

Right: Building airplanes in Israel Air Force training base,

Haifa Bay. Courtesy of Zippy Porath

Haifa BayNovember 29, 1948

Dearest Mother, Dad and Naomi,  From the roof of the hospital, I watched this morning's parade, a parade of soldiers of the Jewish State. Not partisans or underground fighters. Soldiers, standing erect and proud, in rain puddles six inches deep, wearing shabby outfits—winter uniforms still haven't reached us—listening to lofty words of accomplishment and tribute.  I, too, listened but my thoughts wandered—drifted back to last November 29th, 1947, Jerusalem, the courtyard of the Sochnut building, the spontaneous joy that filled the streets when the United Nations resolution calling for a Jewish State was approved.

Full text: http://jwa.org/media/letter-from-haifa-bay-november-29-1948

And now we march, we form ranks, we listen to speeches, we salute officers: Natan, as they taught him in the Russian army; Lev, as he learned in the RAF… Moshe, in Turkish style. All of them, saluting the Jewish Officer in Command, representing Tzva Haganah LeYisrael (Israel Defense Forces). The same people who were partisans last year are soldiers today, and civilian citizens of the State of Israel tomorrow. I wondered whether "tomorrow" would be another year or an eternity?  I can't believe this year. So much has happened, but the most important thing by far is the birth of the State. I've been part of it and it will forever be part of me. I guess that means I am telling you I intend to see this war through and then remain on, whatever happens. This is now my HOME. Love,Zippy

Full text: http://jwa.org/media/letter-from-haifa-bay-november-29-1948

Zippy marries Lt. Col. Joseph Porath, Israel's Military Attache to the

USA, in a wedding ceremony at the Israel Embassy, Washington,

D.C., June 24, 1951.

Courtesy of Zippy Porath

In a ceremony on Israel's 20th

anniversary (1968), Gen. (res.) Yaakov Dori,

Former IDF Chief-of-Staff, presents a

citation to Zipporah Porath in the presence of Avraham Harman,

Presidentof Hebrew University.

Haganah, IDF, and IAF medals and

decorations issued by the Ministry of Defense

to veterans ofIsrael's War of Independence.

Courtesy of Zippy Porath

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? CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS

What can letters, primary sources, and eye-witness accounts add to our lessons about historical events?

How would you connect Zippy’s story to other parts of your curriculum?

How might you use her letters with your students?

What questions, ideas, or themes would you explore?

What additional stories or resources might you bring in?

AN AMERICAN JEW IN ISRAEL with ZIPPORAH PORATHOnline Learning for Jewish Educators