The Altalena, a ship whose fate nearly incited a civil war in the newly-established State of Israel. Immediately after Israel attained statehood, Prime Minister David Ben Gurion established a national army into which several independent Jewish defense forces, small armies with their own political philosophies, were supposed to unite.

However, in this case, unity was late to come.

On June 20, 1948, the Altalena arrived in Israel carrying 930 World War II refugees and a stockpile of ammunition amassed by the Irgun (one of the independent defense forces) in direct violation of Ben Gurion’s new military chain of command. In the midst of the ship’s landing and a cease-fire in the War of Independence, Ben Gurion gave the order to shell the ship, forcing Jews to fire on Jews and almost sparking a civil war.

The controversy surrounding the Altalena affair continues to reverberate in current Israeli politics s until today and the remains of the ship have not yet been found.

The post The Etzel Surrender Agreement – The Altalena Affair Extremely Rare Document first appeared on VINTAGE ISRAELI POSTERS.

In the postcard, Jabotinsky reveals his attempts to obtain a visa to Palestine while traveling in Tyrol, Austria. This was no easy feat, as Jewish immigrants faced strict restrictions on entry to Israel imposed by the British Mandate regime. According to the regulations of the first White Book from 1920, the British limited immigration to Israel based on the country’s “economic absorption capacity,” with quotas primarily granted to those with financial means, relatives in Israel, students, and people with certain professions.  This left many Jews unable to immigrate to Israel, even during the great immigrations of the fourth and fifth waves.

Jabotinsky’s urgency and determination to enter the country are evident in his plans to visit Jerusalem between October 1 and 10, despite the difficult circumstances. The postcard was written just months after Zabotinsky was elected to be the Zionist  Executive, a limited committee of the World Zionist Organization, at the 12th Zionist Congress in August of 1921.

Jabotinsky was a Zionist leader and one of the most influential Jewish activists of the 20th century. He was a key figure in the creation of the Jewish Legion during World War I, which played a pivotal role in the establishment of the State of Israel. He was also a prolific writer and orator, advocating for Jewish rights and independence at every turn.

This postcard is a remarkable piece of history documenting the struggles and determination of one of the most influential figures in the Jewish national movement.

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In 1919, after six years in France and later with World War I in a children’s refugee home in Odessa, she returned to Palestine On the famous “Ruslan” ship and settled at Kevuzat Deganyah as an agronomist until she was forced to leave when diagnosed with tuberculosis.

“You’re sick and we’re healthy, That’s why you should leave” she was told by one of her friends in Deganyah. Her last years were spent in loneliness and agony. Many of Rachel’s poems were written after she was already ill, and they express the warm feeling she felt for the landscapes of the Kinneret and the work of the land, and her longing for the members of the group.

One of them was Ben Zion Israeli, a pioneer from Rehovot and Deganyah, who also was Rahel’s lover at the time and left her due to her illness. Ben Zion was married to Haya Israeli (Selzer) who was Rahel’s friend.

In 1925 Rahel wrote a letter to Ben Zion expressing her distress, her loneliness, and her longing for the Sea of ​​Galilee and him. She asks him to come to visit her in the hospital so she could personally give him a poem she wrote for him. In the estate of Haya Israeli is the love poem attached to Rachel’s letter.

The letter before us expresses the tension between the two companies following the affair in the illness shadow as well as Rahel’s state of mind during these years. We find a poetic letter painted with tenderness and melody, in which Rahel insists that she does not and has never had any “spirit of revenge” towards Haya and that now her heart is at peace about their relationship.

She is reminded of the “Kinneret Rahel, a laughing, dancing and frivolous girl” and is surprised to discover that in Haya’s eyes, she was wise and great. Rachel writes about “the woman poet”.  The whispers in which a woman’s inner world is expressed, that is her sole authority, in which a man has no part.

The letter ends with a greeting to Ben- Zion Israeli “who was my friend and now is estranged from me” and a greeting to the Kinneret that she loved so much.

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_Unit 101_ Collection

The collection showcases 60 original photographs and paper artifacts from “Unit 101” 1953-1954.

The photographs document various reprisals conducted by IDF soldiers, including “Operation Shoshana” in Kivia (October 1953), “Operation Samaria” in Kalkilia (October 1956), “Operation Tzuk Sela” in Khirbet Shona (May 1965), “Operation Magrash” in Kfar A-Samoa in Mount Hebron (November 1966), and more. They depict soldiers en route to, during, or returning from these operations. The images feature the destruction of Kibiya and Samua villages, aerial shots of the aftermath, and a group photo with Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan alongside Unit 101 soldiers. Most are annotated on the back, some have attached information sheets (in English), Hebrew titles, and military censorship stamps. Various photographers and agencies, such as Avraham Vared, Newsphot Ltd., “Sela,” Shmuel Shachem, and Paul Goldman, contributed. Five printed maps show operation locations and IDF movements.

Unit 101 was established in August 1953 under the leadership of its commander, Ariel Sharon. Comprising 50 young men chosen for their integrity, humility, physical prowess, bravery, patriotism, and willingness to make sacrifices, Unit 101 redefined combat standards during its brief existence.

Just five months after its formation, Unit 101 was disbanded and integrated into the 890 Paratrooper Battalion at the Tel Nof base in January 1954. Despite its short tenure, the unit left an indelible mark on the IDF, instilling values of commitment, camaraderie, courage, and flawless execution of tasks. Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan praised Unit 101 as a model for other IDF units, recognizing its tangible impact on practical warfare.

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“And for the new year… I hereby express my blessing to him and to all who belong to him, a good writing and signature blessing for a good and sweet year physically and spiritually.”

One of the most influential and fascinating figures in Jewish life of the 20th century, The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s influence extended far beyond the boundaries of Chabad. His path and spiritual teachings remain a guiding torch, illuminating our journey.

Printed on a typewriter on the Rebbe’s official letterhead, and signed with Yad Kadesh’s signature.

Sent to Rabbi Meir Kharlov in Ramat Gan:

The post “Shena Tova” Letter From The Lubavitcher Rebbe – Elul 1957 Brooklyn, New York, “Days of Forgiveness” first appeared on VINTAGE ISRAELI POSTERS.

Letter from Weizmann September 1, 1932, to Zionist journalist Aron G. Hermoni (1884-1960).

Translation From German:

“I thank you for your letter which reached me here. I read the second paragraph with great interest. Of course, you will be decried a ‘traitor,’ but that does not change the truth of what you have spoken. You are quite right with the idea for a good French-Jewish newspaper, I will try to see how I can help now in that matter. I do not have control over funds of this nature, but I will give the Plan serious thought. I hope to be in Paris on the 20th of the month (Hotel George V). Perhaps you will have the great kindness to call me on the morning of the 20th. Then we can set a time to have a discussion; maybe we can attract some of our Paris friends. I am staying in Paris for only two days, but that is enough for a discussion. In the meantime, I send you my warmest regards…”

After teaching chemistry at the University of Geneva, Weizmann moved to England and joined Manchester University. There, he formed the Manchester School, a group of Zionists dedicated to spreading information about Zionism through publications. As president of the Jewish Agency for Palestine and the World Zionist Organization, Weizmann played a key role in persuading the British cabinet to endorse a Jewish settlement in Palestine.

‘Les Juifs’ (The Jews), a historically significant French Jewish journal, holds a special place among the Jewish journalistic efforts to counter the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and France. It emerged in 1933 amid the rise of the Nazi Party to power and found crucial support from Chaim Weizmann.

The letter is a response to Hezroni’s requests for help in funding the paper. Weizmann acknowledged the journal’s importance: ‘You are quite right with the idea for a good French-Jewish newspaper.’ Although immediate resources were scarce, he stated, ‘I do not have control over funds of this nature, but I will give the plan serious thought.’ Despite challenges, Weizmann committed to exploring avenues and arranged a meeting in Paris to craft a comprehensive plan. Not long after, the journal was established.

This rare letter from Weizmann in 1932 serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment of individuals like him, who recognized the importance of establishing new platforms for expression and activism against the anti-Semitic rise in Europe.

Weizmann wrote our letter in blue ink from the Catalonian Hotel Estrach. Lightly folded and creased. In very fine condition.

The post WEIZMANN, CHAIM Israel’s first President Rare Autograph Signed Letter – Support The Jewish journal ‘Les Juifs’ 1932 first appeared on VINTAGE ISRAELI POSTERS.

The Collection Items:

Items 1-9: Original photographs from Israel and Germany

Item 10: Exodus 1947: Early booklet by Daphne Trevor, featuring pictures, published by Palestine and the Middle East in 1947, in English.

Item 11: “Manic Alarm for Illegal Immigrants!”

This message was broadcast by the Exodus during its attack by the British Navy. It was printed as a special edition of “The Observer” newspaper on the day of the event July 18, 1947

Items 13-15: Three original certificates were issued in the Pappendorf displaced persons camp to the exodus refugees after forcefully returning to Germany. Two of these certificates are complete with a passport photo, while one is blank.  These certificates were specifically issued to prevent disperse during transit between camps. From the fear of potential surveillance by the British authorities, the certificates intentionally omitted any identifying information, with the exception of the passport photo.

Item 16: Issue 6-7 of Palestine and Middle East monthly, featuring the Exodus on the cover (June-July 1947), in English.

אוסף אקסודוס

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As he suspected, on April 4, Amin al-Husseini, and A’raf al-A’raf stirred up the crowd of celebrants with heated hate speeches against the Jews. As a result, after the traditional prayer of the holiday, the excited crowd of Arab celebrants left the mosque in the Judean desert, to the Jewish homes in Old Jerusalem, shouting “Advah al-Yehud” (slaughter the Jews). The British army units that were supposed to protect them left the city a few days before, and Arab and British policemen even joined the rioters in many cases. Seven Jewish residents of the Old City were killed, and several hundreds were injured. Women captured by the rioters were raped, much property was looted and synagogues were burned.

Jabotinsky stood for their defense, and his group managed to evacuate about 400 Jews from the Old City. However, on the third day of the riots, the defenders’ attempts to enter the Old City were repelled by the British, and 19 of them were subsequently arrested. Jabotinsky turned himself in as their commander and demanded to be imprisoned as well. He was sentenced to 15 years in Acre Prison. His arrest was political by definition and provoked strong public opposition in Israel and worldwide. Heavy pressure was put on the British authorities to release him. In July 1920, a general amnesty was granted to all those involved in the events, both Jews and Arabs. However, Jabotinsky continued to fight for a total acquittal, which he obtained a few months later.

This is one of Jabotinsky’s most famous and iconic photographs, a testament to his struggles and personal sacrifices in his Zionist journey and incredible contributions. The photo was taken by the renowned Bezalel photographer Ya’akov Ben Dov and later printed on the most famous postcard of the Beitar movement. The second photo depicts the Jewish attempts at life in Acre Prison, showing the prisoners working out in the yard.

The post Extremely Rare One-of-a-Kind Original Photography Collection of Jabotinsky in Acre Prison 1920 first appeared on VINTAGE ISRAELI POSTERS.

SHARON, ARIEL. (1928-2014). Israeli general and the country’s 11th prime minister. TLS. (“Ariel Sharon”). 2/3p. 4to. (Jerusalem), January 4, 1999. On Minister of Foreign Affairs letterhead, with the blind embossed seal of Israel. To American autograph collector Robert J. Cohen.

“I appreciate dearly your personal trust and faith in me and my way, and moreover I appreciate your fidelity to Zionism and to its enormous personalities as Zeev Jabotinsky and Menachem Begin.

I am sorry I have to return your check, but upon the Israeli law I can not accept it.

Nevertheless, I thank you for thinking and writing to me… [in holograph] ‘Shalom’ …”

Born in Mandatory Palestine to Russian immigrants Schmuel and Vera Scheinerman, Sharon participated in the night patrols of his moshav as a teenager and, in 1942, joined the paramilitary youth organization Gadna, after which he joined the Haganah to fight in the 1948 War. David Ben-Gurion Hebraized his name to Sharon, and he earned a reputation as a hardened fighter who survived multiple battle wounds while ascending through the ranks of the newly formed Israeli Defense Forces and leading the newly formed special forces Unit 101 and the Paratroopers Brigade. During the early decades of Israel’s history, he led forces in the 1956 Suez Crisis, the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition, and the Yom-Kippur War, and his long military career prompted Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to call Sharon the “greatest field commander in our history,” (“Israel’s Man of War,” New York, Kramer). After retiring from the military, Sharon embarked on a political career, helping found the Likud party and winning a Knesset seat in 1973. From 1981-1983 he served as Menachem Begin’s minister of defense and held several other ministerial roles before acting as prime minister from 2001-2006.

Influential Russian-Jewish, Revisionist Zionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky (1880-1940) was born Vladimir Zhabotinsky in Odessa, where he received a secular Russian education before dropping out of school at 17 to become a newspaper correspondent where he earned a reputation for his dispatches from Italy. His work subjected him to the scrutiny of the Tsarist police who imprisoned him for several months after he published an anti-establishment article. Following the 1903 Kishinev pogrom, Jabotinsky became a Zionist, learned Hebrew, changed his name from Vladimir to Ze’ev and organized the militant Jewish Self-Defense Organization to help protect Russian Jewish villages against ever increasing violence. A passionate orator, he traveled widely throughout Russia and Europe advocating for Zionism and stressing the need to learn Hebrew. However, unlike more moderate Zionists, Jabotinsky was skeptical that Jews could live peacefully in the territories they had settled and focused on self-defense rather than assimilation. At the outbreak of World War I, he and Joseph Trumpeldor convinced the British military in Egypt to allow them to organize Jews deported from the Ottoman Empire into a military organization and join the British in liberating Palestine from the Ottomans. In 1915, Trumpeldor and Jabotinsky established the Zion Mule Corps, or Jewish Legion, as part of the 38th and 42nd battalions of Royal Fusiliers. Most of these volunteers, including Jabotinsky, fought heroically against the Turks at the Dardanelles during the Gallipoli Campaign. After the war, Jabotinsky settled in Palestine, where, in 1920, he was elected to the first Assembly of Representatives. That same year, the threat of Arab riots near Jerusalem led him, once again, to organize a defense organization. He was subsequently arrested by the British for illegal possession of weapons but served only a few months of his 15-year sentence. He quickly grew disillusioned with the British administration of Palestine, parted ways with Chaim Weizmann, and in 1923, formed the Alliance of Revisionists-Zionists and the related youth movement, Betar, whose goal was to establish a Jewish state on both sides of the Jordan River. He continued to work toward that goal and lectured around the world despite his banishment from Palestine in 1930. His influence on Israeli politics continues to this day.

A militant Russian Zionist, Menachem Begin (1913-1992) survived torture in Vilnius’ Lukiškės Prison and enforced labor in a Russian gulag, eventually settling in the British Mandate of Palestine, where he became a prominent leader in the Jewish uprising to force a British withdrawal from the region. After Israel’s founding, Begin became an outspoken and indefatigable member of the Knesset’s Likud opposition party until his election as prime minister in 1977. Begin is best remembered for negotiating the Camp David Accords with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. From September 17-29, 1978, the two leaders held intense negotiations moderated by American President Jimmy Carter at Camp David, the Maryland presidential retreat. The result was the creation of two documents: A Framework for Peace in the Middle East and A Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel. For the Camp David Accords Begin and Sadat shared the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize. Begin remained prime minister until 1983 when he was succeeded by Yitzhak Rabin.

The post Ariel Sharon Interesting Signed letter About Jabotinsky & Begin 1999 first appeared on VINTAGE ISRAELI POSTERS.

First letter Haim Laskov  IDF Chief of Staff 1959

Second letter Cancellation of appointment by IDF Chief of Staff  “Yitzhak Rabin” appointing Avraham Ben Porat as commander of an intelligence school. 1964

Farmed

Israeli defense force

מכתבים רשמיים רשמי צה”ל חתומים על ידי הרמטכ”ל רב אלוף הכללי יצחק רבין

1959

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