The Story of Israel’s Post-Independence War Struggle for Arms:

Newly Discovered Rare Poster by the Shamir Brothers 1950s

After the UN decision to partition Israel, acquiring weapons for Israeli Defense became a critical yet extremely complex challenge. With an arms embargo imposed by the US on the Middle East blocking legal supplies from America and Europe, Israel resorted to illicit arms procurement, mainly from the Soviet bloc. This led to a varied and outdated arsenal, causing severe logistical issues for the IDF. (It should also be noted that meanwhile, Arab armies were extremely equipped, both in the quantity and quality of weaponry).

Following the War of Independence, the IDF sought a solution by standardizing its firearms. In the 1950s, they selected the FN FAL rifle—a modern and efficient weapon successfully used by Israel until the 70s in numerous operations, including Operation Kadesh (1956), the Six-Day War (1967), and the Yom Kippur War (1973). Despite its accuracy, the rifle’s sensitivity to desert conditions required constant maintenance, leading to frustration among soldiers.

To address this and foster trust and proper care for their weapons, the Ministry of Defense launched a campaign for the soldiers. As part of this effort, the renowned Shamir brothers created the poster you see above, now newly discovered and presented here—the only known survivor from that campaign. The poster’s slogan, “Soldier! Take care of me, trust me,” encapsulates the intricate narrative of Israel’s early military history, reflecting the battles fought to build and defend the nascent state.

The State of Israel was officially established on May 14, 1948, alongside the formation of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). However, the Israeli Navy was only established about a month and a half later, on June 30, 1948, the day the British left Haifa port. This date marks the annual celebration of Yom Hayam \ Sea Day (Navy Day) in Israel.

1958 marked Israel’s first decade, with celebrations throughout the country. A highlight in our collection is the remarkable Navy Day poster from that year. The Poster features the powerful inscription: “The Navy protects the gateways of our country.” This phrase not only underscores the critical role of the Israeli Navy but also highlights its significant involvement in Aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) during the Yishuv period.

Related Posters

“The Ten Commandments” (1956), directed by Cecil B. DeMille, is a cinematic epic that retells the biblical story of Moses and the Exodus (Passover story). The film’s posters are legendary, capturing two of the most recognizable scenes in biblical history: Moses parting the Red Sea and receiving the Ten Commandments.

These images resonate deeply within the Jewish identity, symbolizing both the struggles we endured and still enduring for our freedom and the relevance of ancient stories and shared heritage in our lives.

Founded by the visionary Ze’ev Jabotinsky in 1929, the Tel Hai Foundation quickly became a cornerstone of the Revisionist Zionist movement. Its mission was: to educate Zionist youth with the skills and spirit of self-defense, with the ultimate goal of eventually building a Hebrew state.

One of the Foundation’s most significant undertakings was the creation of the “Ze’ev Jabotinsky Fortress\ Metzudat Ze’ev” in Tel Aviv. What began as the ‘Trumpeldor Club’—home to the Beitar Movement (Revisionist Youth) in 1928 and a clandestine meeting place for Etzel underground fighters—grew into the formidable Jabotinsky House, a 14-story symbol of the movement. It was within these walls that Menachem Begin celebrated his historic 1977 electoral victory.

When the construction of the ‘Fortress’ began in 1935, the site lay on the fringe of the first Hebrew city. By the time of its completion and expansion in 1965, it had become an enduring central icon of Tel Aviv’s political and cultural landscape—the heart of the Revisionist and later the Herut movements. Today, the building serves as the headquarters of the Likud movement and houses three museums: the Jabotinsky Museum, the Etzel Museum, and the Museum of Fighters and Partisans.

In 1898, just a year after the First Zionist Congress, Theodor Herzl, the foremost Zionist leader, visited the Land of Israel for the first and only time, seeking international recognition for the Jewish right to a sovereign state.

His mission –  a crucial meeting with the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was touring the region. At the time, Herzl was considered a minor politician with a crazy idea, while Wilhelm II led one of the world’s most powerful nations. Their meeting symbolized the first international consideration of Zionist aspirations.

Herzl arrived in Israel via the port of Jaffa with a small Zionist delegation and met the German ruler twice, pursuing the Kaiser’s influence over the Ottoman Sultan to support a Jewish state in Israel. The meetings’ importance lay not in their immediate outcomes but in the fact they even occurred. For the first time, the Zionist vision received acknowledgment from a major global leader.

The Most Famous Zionist ‘Photoshop’

Herzel understood the importance of capturing the meeting. This was assigned to David Wolfson however, his photo failed to include Herzl, showing only his leg. Herzl was later added with a photo montage, depicting him in conversation with the Emperor.

Herzl: “In Basel, I established the Jewish state. If I had said that out loud today, everyone would have laughed at me. Maybe in five years, and certainly in fifty years, they will all agree.” May the memory of this great visionary be etched on our hearts for generations and forever.”​

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) was founded during the Fifth Zionist Congress in 1901, through land purchase, agricultural development, and infrastructure projects, laid the groundwork for Israel’s establishment.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the JNF worked to strengthen the bond between Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Among its many initiatives, they produced a special series of educational posters aimed at Jewish youth.

These posters aimed to share the new Israeli identity, teach Hebrew, and inspire young minds to participate in building the homeland and blossoming the wilderness. The posters depicted early Israeli life, were sent to youth movements, Zionist organizations, schools, and kindergartens worldwide, and fostered a deep love for Israel.

Although often unsigned, many beautiful posters were created by Zvi Berger (1935-1986), a renowned Bezalel painter, designer, and illustrator, who crafted them with a deep love for Israel and his youthful memories. ( all the posters in this collection were designed by him).

Almost 140 years have passed since the first harvest of Carmel Wineries, the oldest winery in Israel, which once employed three future prime ministers in their youth. This one-of-a-kind sign, designed by Zeev Raban and Meir Gur-Arie in their renowned Bezalel studio is one of the highlights of our collection for its incredible design, extreme rarity, and historic value.

The winery was established in Rishon LeZion by its first settlers in 1889, with the financial assistance of Baron de Rothschild. It provided employment and purpose for many from the first and second aliyah, including David Ben-Gurion. The story of Carmel Wineries intertwines with the history of settlement in the Land of Israel, reflecting the dreams and efforts of the first aliyah settlers who, driven by an unwavering love for the Land of Israel created a thriving Zionist enterprise.

Ze’ev Raban (1890-1970) and Meir Gur-Arie (1891-1951)

In the 1920s and 1930s, Raban and Gur-Arie were the central figures in Israel’s art and graphic design. Besides their personal works, they created famous symbols for many Zionist organizations (such as KKL and the Levant Fair) and for commercial “Tozeret Haaretz” companies in various sectors and industries. Today, they are considered masters and pioneers of Israeli art and education. Their works are essential to the permanent collections in many museums in Israel, such as the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the Tel Aviv Museum, and many private collections worldwide.

Ze’ev Raban  and Meir Gur-Arie Works

The Jewish settlement in Israel saw itself as part of the resistance against the Nazis during World War II. Despite initial resistance from religious factions, the call for women to serve alongside men in the British army echoed strongly from the war’s outset. Approximately 40,000 soldiers from the Hebrew settlement volunteered for the British army, with around 4,500 being women.

In 1941, supported by the Jewish Agency, representatives from various women’s Zionist organizations such as the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) and Hadassah, petitioned the British authorities to allow Jewish women volunteers to join the ATS Women’s Auxiliary Corps.

In October 1941 British authorities agreed to recruit 5,000 women. Although the agency requested the women be recruited into Hebrew units, this was only partially fulfilled, with most women being dispersed across various ATS units in the Middle East. Nevertheless, these women were promised special recognition and the use of Hebrew as an official language among recruits.

Despite numerous challenges, approximately 4,500 women volunteered for the ATS, with about 700 joining the Women’s Air Auxiliary Corps. These women took on diverse roles, serving in locations such as Cairo, Alexandria, Bari, and Rome. Their tasks ranged from ambulance driving to combat support for the Jewish Brigade.

The contribution of Jewish women during World War II was invaluable. Upon their return, they brought back extensive military experience, laying the groundwork for the IDF Women’s Corps and a conceptual revolution regarding women’s ability to serve in any position — a notion that continues in the IDF to this day. The IDF Women’s Corps, entrusted to pioneers like Sarah Braverman, the only female soldier who returned from the paratrooper mission in Europe, and Shoshana Gershonovich, marked a significant step forward in Jewish women’s struggles toward equality.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day this week,  let us honor their legacy remarkable achievements, and unwavering commitment to building and protecting Israel.

The concept of ‘Totzeret Haaretz,’ or ‘Produce of the Land,’ emerged in Israel during the 1920s, eventually becoming a national decree by the 1930s, symbolizing the significance of Hebrew-made goods in a time when every purchase from olive oil and eggs to shoes or building materials, was seen as a national contribution.

Advertising poster for “Totzeret Haaretz” pavilion, “Levant Fair” 1935

1938 was a challenging year for the Jewish settlement in Israel. Not only was the Great Arab Revolt at its peak, with fields burning, riots, and daily attacks on Jews, but despite the capital, entrepreneurship, and technological expertise brought by Jewish settlers during the Fifth Aliyah, global circumstances prevented the export of produce, leaving many production surpluses unclaimed within Israel.

In response to this economic and security crisis, Natan Alterman articulated the Yishuv strategy in his renowned song “Totzeret Haaretz” that year: to instill love, respect, affection, and envy for the products of the land. The settlement emphasized consuming products exclusively from Jewish kibbutzim, moshavim, and factories in Hebrew cities. This is how the Yishuv paved the way to establishing economic stability and achieving national success and prosperity in such a short time.

During the 1930s and 1940s, various organizations such as the ‘Center for the Produce of the Land’ emerged to promote Israeli products, running campaigns using posters, ads, games, guides, and even Hebrew market tours. They advocated a boycott against non-supportive merchants who didn’t back the cause. Buying foreign goods or discounted milk products from non-Jewish sources was considered a betrayal of the national revival, Zionist ideals, farmers, and workers.

The growth of Hebrew production and agriculture during this period was crucial, forming the backbone of the settlement’s resilience. The battle for blue-and-white products continues- to this day the purchase of domestic ‘made in Israel’ products remains a steady value in Israeli society, especially during times of security tensions in the face of numerous threats. Our strength has always been and still lies in our unity and support for one another.

What did the British Mandate and the Western world understand during WWII that is sadly forgotten today?

Approximately 40,000 Jews from Eretz Israel enlisted in the British Army during the war. Despite the Jewish community’s resistance struggles against the restrictive Mandate White Paper, which limited Jewish immigration and land acquisition. They saw themselves and their enlistment as part of the resistance against Nazi Germany. David Ben-Gurion famously stated, “We must assist the British in the war as if there was no White Paper, and we must oppose the White Paper as if there was no war.”

In 1944\43, the Jewish Brigade was established within the British Army, symbolizing national recognition of Jewish efforts and their willingness to volunteer. Upon their return, the Brigade members brought back extensive military experience, laying the groundwork for the IDF and contributing to its success in the War of Independence.

What makes these posters special?

Most Jewish Brigade posters were made by the Jewish Yishuv or the Jewish Agency and featured Hebrew texts and styles. Uniquely these two posters were printed and designed by the British Mandate in Eretz Israel, with a distinctly British style, the British Mandate symbol at the top, and marked “Printed in Palestine” at the bottom. The posters reflect the Mandate’s understanding that the Jewish community was their only reliable ally in the Middle East, given the pro-German sentiments among Arab nationalists.

Israel has always been the only reliable ally of the Western world in the Middle East, a fact that sadly seems to be lacking in today’s climate.

Jewish Brigade Posters