Le territoire de Gaza : agression ou paix – “The Gaza Strip: Aggression or Peace” – Published by the Information Division of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, 1956 – First Edition. French.
A special booklet describing Egypt’s brutal treatment of the Arab civilians in Gaza after it seized the Gaza Strip during the 1948 War of Independence. The booklet is, in fact, an accusatory finger pointing at Egypt for its mishandling of the Arab refugees in the Gaza Strip and for turning Gaza into a base for Arab terrorism against Israel:
“Throughout the entire period of occupation, the Egyptians behaved like foreign conquerors, treating the population with contempt and arrogance… From the signing of the armistice agreements between Israel and the Arab states in February 1949 until the end of 1956, Arab terrorists carried out 3,367 incursions into Israel, killing 443 Israelis and injuring 963. The incursions included the theft of livestock and agricultural equipment, armed attacks on vehicles, and assaults on civilians in their homes and fields, as well as sabotage operations such as blowing up water facilities and railway tracks, executed from all surrounding countries. However, the epicenter of these activities was in the Gaza area…” The booklet explains that the Egyptian military regime in Gaza is essentially temporary, and that the Egyptians viewed the refugees as assets in their campaign of hostility against Israel. Therefore, it argues, Gaza should be annexed to Israel due to its geographical and economic ties, and only by fully annexing Gaza to Israel could the terrorist campaign, based in Gaza, be prevented.
The booklet is accompanied by harsh, disturbing photographs of Jews killed in the Arab terror attacks, a map of the Land of Israel marking the Gaza Strip, bags of flour sent by the Israeli government to Gaza, a rare photo of Gaza’s mayor Roushdi Al-Shawa at a municipal council inauguration ceremony with Lieutenant Colonel Haim Gaon, a mourning family over a grandmother killed by a grenade thrown into their home in Ashkelon on April 8, 1956, by a member of a Fedayeen group during an engagement ceremony.
It is astounding how this booklet, published in 1956, seems to reflect the current situation.
Rare. Only four copies are listed in the WorldCat library catalog.
16 pages. 22 cm. Light stains on the cover. Good – very good condition.
Prayers for Trench and Base – Pocket Prayers for the Hebrew Soldier During World War I – By Basil Lucas Quixano Henriques. London, 1918 – Second Edition. Limited Edition of Only 3,000 Copies. Rare.
A prayer book written and by Captain Henriques, with a special blessing from Rabbi Hertz, the Chief Rabbi of London. Alongside daily prayers, it includes special prayers for soldiers in danger, for the dead on the battlefield, for daily strength, for brotherhood, sincerity, forgiveness, times of danger, for the victory of justice, and more. The first edition was published in June 1918 in a limited run of 5,000 copies. The second edition, presented here, was published in November 1918 in only 3,000 copies.
32 pages. 12 cm. Very Good Condition.
PROGRAMMA van de Kerkelijke Herdenking van de erkenning van Amsterdam als Stad in het jaar A.M. 5035 (1275 gew. jaartelling) in de Synagogen der Ned. Israel. Hoofdsyna goge te Amsterdam OP SABBATH 23 ELOEL 5685 12 SEPTEMBER 1925 – “The Commemoration Program for the Recognition of Amsterdam as a City in the Year 5035 (1275) in the Synagogues of the Netherlands. Israel. The Main Synagogue in Amsterdam, Shabbat, 23 Elul 5695 (September 12, 1925) – A Special Prayer Service for the 650th Anniversary of the Founding of Amsterdam, the Dutch City in 1275, with a special prayer composed specifically for the occasion. Dutch and Hebrew. Rare.
[4] pages. Minor tears at the top edge. Good condition.
Four Prayer Booklets Published for Special Historical Events by the Office of the Chief Rabbi in England.
1.Thanks giving Prayer for the End of World War II, London, 1946.
2. Special Prayer for United Nations Day, London, 1949.
3. Prayer for the Recovery of King George VI, London, 1951.
4. Prayer for the Success of the Assembly of Mighty Nations (UN) in Geneva for Increasing Peace and Limiting Weapons of War, 1955.
The condition of the booklets is very good.
גרויס בריטאניע, פאלעסטינא און די אידען : אידישע פייערונג לכבוד דעם נאציאנאלען טשארטער – “Great Britain, Palestine, and the Jews: A Jewish Celebration for the National Charter.” The official reactions from Zionist federations around the world to the Balfour Declaration, published by the Zionist Organization, London, 1918 (Hebrew year 5678). Yiddish. Rare.
A rare booklet documenting the enthusiastic reactions and celebrations held by a wide range of Zionist organizations worldwide upon the acceptance of the Balfour Declaration: “The British government’s declaration in favor of the establishment of a national home in the Land of Israel is the greatest step in Jewish history since they were expelled from their land… This booklet is merely a brief description of the celebrations, which took various forms, in honor of the mandate given to Zionism by the British government…”
68 pages. Good condition.
Five Publications Addressing the Struggle for the Establishment of a Jewish Homeland in Eretz Israel During the British Mandate, and the White Paper. London, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv. 1933–1945.
A POST-WAR BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE NEAR EASTERN MANDATES 1919–1930 – Hebrew Fascicle – A bibliographic list of publications issued in Eretz Israel during the British Mandate. Published by the American University of Beirut – Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Jerusalem, 1933.
DOCUMENTS Relating to the Balfour Declaration and the Palestine Mandate Published by the Jewish Agency. London, May 1939.
The Jewish Case Against the Palestine White Paper – DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE PERMANENT MANDATES COMMISSION OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS Published by the Jewish Agency. London, 1939.
THE BROKEN PLEDGE – The Case Against The White Paper on Palestine – Published by the Jewish Frontier Association. New York, 1944.
A Bi-National Solution for Eretz Israel – Memorandum Prepared by the Hashomer Hatzair Workers’ Party in Eretz Israel Published by the Central Committee of Hashomer Hatzair Party. Tel Aviv, March 1945.
General condition: good.
Issue of the Newspaper “Ba’afraying” – Organ of the “Poalei Zion” Party for the She’erit HaPleitah in Poland – Lodz, December 1, 1947. The headline announces: “גענעראל פארזאמלונג פון אונר”א באשלאסן צו שאפן א יידישע מלוכה אין א”י [ארץ ישראל] מיט 33 שטימען ביי 10 אפגעהאלטענע אוו 13 קעגן” – “General Assembly of UNRRA Decides to Establish a Jewish State in Eretz Israel with 33 Votes, 10 Abstentions, and 13 Against” – two days after the UN Resolution on November 29. Two Days After the UN Declaration on November 29.
The issue opens with an emotional article (translated): “It is hard to convey the feelings we are experiencing in light of this great historical event. After two thousand years, the Jewish people restore the chain of their independence in their ancient historical homeland, in Eretz Israel. A lofty moment lives among the scattered Jews of the world, and especially among the blood-soaked Jews of Poland. The highest international body – the United Nations – on Saturday, November 29, with a majority of more than two-thirds, voted for the establishment of a Jewish state in Israel. For weeks, the debate on this question continued, with committees and subcommittees examining the matter from various angles. Our representatives – Dr. Weizmann, Ben-Gurion, Shertok, Dr. Silver, and others – had to overcome numerous obstacles to bring the question of the Jewish state to a just resolution…”. The entire issue focuses on the Zionist movement’s preparations and response to the joyous news of the end of the British Mandate and the establishment of a Jewish State in Eretz Israel.
[6] pages. Complete issue. Stains, fold marks, and filing holes on the right side. Condition: Moderate – Good.
Four Letters of Charter – Agreements Between the State of Israel and Arab States, and More, Following the War of Independence. Official Government Printer Publication, Israel, 1949–1950.
Israel-Syria Agreement for a General Armistice. Full text, July 20, 1949.
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan-Israel Agreement for a General Armistice. Full text.
Final Report of the United Nations Commission Regarding the Declaration of Death for Missing Persons.
Air Transport Agreement Between the Government of Israel and the Government of the United States of America.
Condition: Overall good – very good.
A proposal for the completion of a land sale transaction to Jews, belonging to Rashid Pasha in Jaffa, on behalf of the Dajany brothers (Dajany & Co.) – Anglo-Egyptian Bank – official letterhead of the company and signature of Hassan Dajany.
Letter text:
“Jerusalem, November 19, 1923.
Litwinski & Brothers, Jaffa
Gentlemen,
I spoke with your representative, Mr. Maurice, two days ago regarding Rashid Pasha’s garden in Jaffa. Rashid Pasha wishes to sell his half of the garden of Sheikh Salim. He would like to know if there are any buyers. Rashid Pasha is prepared to send his power of attorney to sell on the day we can tell him the price and terms of sale he desires, meaning if a buyer is found for him who is allowed to purchase under the terms and prices approved by Rashid Pasha. Please contact the buyers on the other side, those of the government (inquire about their identity with Mr. Matalon) and kindly let me know your thoughts on this matter. Naturally, (you and I) will receive our commission from the sale, which we will divide. I look forward to hearing from you,
Yours respectfully,
Hassan Dajany.”
[1] leaf. 29×22 cm. Filing holes. Good condition.
How to Participate in the Work of the Tel Hai Fund” – Explanatory Booklet about the Tel Hai Fund and Its Objectives, and How to Join and Become a Member through Regular Contributions – Featuring Impressive Photomontage Photographs. Published by the Main Directorate of the Tel Hai Fund, Propaganda Department, Paris, c. 1940s.
The Tel Hai Fund was a financial mobilization and allocation fund serving the Revisionist Zionist movement. Its declared objectives included supporting the Hebrew defense in the Land of Israel and educating Zionist youth in self-defense. In the 1930s, the fund aided new immigrants, graduates of Betar, in establishing or joining settlements created by the Revisionist Zionist Organization and Betar recruitment units. At the end of 1935, the fund collected money for the construction of a building for the National Workers’ Federation in Tel Aviv. During the 1940s, the fund collaborated with the “Committee for Prisoners and Detainees” of the Revisionist movement.
[22] pages. Slightly loose pages. Good condition.
The Rape of Palestine, by William B. Ziff, Published by Argus Books Inc., New York, 1946 – An Anti-British Publication Accusing the British of Abandoning the Jewish Settlement in Palestine to Arab Aggression. Banned by the British Foreign Office for Being “Violent and Offensive.”
William Bernard Ziff (1898–1953) was an American supporter of Revisionist Zionism. In “The Rape of Palestine”, originally published in 1938, Ziff laid out his views. His central argument was that the British Mandate had betrayed the Jews of Palestine, failed to protect them from Arab aggression, and had effectively abandoned them. The book served as a reference source for the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations, which vehemently opposed the White Paper. Even the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry supported Ziff’s claims during their visit to Palestine. In later years, Zionist supporters regarded the book as almost prophetic. The original edition was printed for a limited audience, but once it came to the attention of the British authorities, they labeled it “violent and offensive” and banned its distribution.
118 pages. Wear on the cover. Condition: Good.
Large Group Photograph Featuring Albert Einstein Alongside Scientists at the Honorary Doctorate Ceremony, Howard University, June 20, 1935.
Seated from the left: William Allen White, Albert Einstein, James Bryant Conant, président de l’université, Henry Agard Wallace et Thomas Man.
Standing: (Those who have been identified) Albert Sauver, Waldemar Lindgren, George Sarton, John Campbell Merriam et Walter Prentice.
Size: 37×28 cm. A crack on the right center of the photograph, another crack on the upper part, and a missing tear in the bottom left corner. Condition: Moderate.
Ha’ischa, Orgaan van de Joodse Vrouwenraad in Nederland – “Ha’ischa – The Jewish Women’s Council in the Netherlands” – A bulletin of the Jewish Women’s Councils in the Netherlands. Seven volumes of complete issues written by women and prominent Jewish public figures in the Netherlands, focusing on Jewish women and the mood within the Jewish people during the critical years leading up to World War II, as waves of anti-Semitism rose across Europe, particularly in the Netherlands. Consecutive issues (95 issues bound in seven volumes, except for issue number 2 from 1938). Amsterdam, 1932–1939. Dutch.
A rare Dutch magazine edited by women and written for Jewish women, featuring a variety of articles on the role of Jewish women in social activities in the Netherlands, the cultural life of the Jewish girl, the image of the Jewish woman, documentation of social gatherings of Jewish women, the activities of the WIZO women’s organization in the Netherlands, the future of Judaism, Jewish holidays, and more. Significant sections of the issues from 1933 cover the rise of Hitler to power, with articles discussing the fate of German Jewry, possibilities for their immigration to Eretz Israel
“1933 will likely be the peak year for immigration to Eretz Israel, ” was written at the beginning of the year. Articles appear on the role of Jews in the German economy, and more. Additionally, an important section in the later issues from 1936 onwards includes numerous articles about the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, its horrifying manifestations, and ways to confront it.
Chava Diner researched this unique phenomenon: “Within the Jewish-Dutch press body between the two world wars, the emergence of a women’s magazine edited solely by women for a female readership was an exceptional phenomenon… ‘Ha’ischa’ is a monthly for the educated or semi-educated Jewish middle-class woman. It refers to a housewife or a professional, married or single, who, in addition to her daily occupations, is interested in voluntary social work and is expected to be involved in her community’s affairs: the child, the girl in distress, the elderly, the needy, the refugee, the disabled, and the exceptional. She is culturally interested…, but above all, she is expected to be alert to the current issues of the Jewish world: assimilation, anti-Semitism, Zionism, and Eretz Israel” (Chava Diner, “Ha’ischa – A Unique Women’s Magazine, ” in “Kesher, ” Issue No. 12, November 1992).
Provenance: Willy Lindewer Collection with his private bookplate on the pre-title pages.
95 issues in seven volumes, approximately 27 cm. A few pages with missing tears or clipped sections. Overall condition: Good.
Sahib ve Bas Muharriri ILYAZER MENDA LA VERA LUZ – ‘The True Light’ – “A Weekly Turkish-Jewish Political Newspaper” – Volume of Issues – 180 Consecutive Bound Issues Published Over Four Years, Starting August 1, 1968 to October 27, 1972. A Jewish newspaper published in Turkey under the editorship of Elazar Menda. On the title page of each issue was written in Hebrew the verse: “כי עמך מקור חיים באורך נראה אור” and the newspaper topic: “Haftalık Siyasi Türkçe Musevice Gazete” – “A Weekly Turkish-Jewish Political Newspaper”. Spanish, Turkish, and some Hebrew. The newspaper was published biweekly on Friday (each issue includes times for Shabbat entry and prayer times). Extremely rare.
The newspaper, which began in November 1950, regularly dealt with the domestic affairs of the Jewish community in Turkey, Jewish holidays, relations between the various Jewish communities, and relations between Jews and other peoples in Turkey and beyond, Hebrew poetry and literature, political developments in Israel, and more. Editorials were written by the owner Elazar Menda, and among the writers were Moshe Levi, Belman, and Isaac Misistrano. Also writing in it were many lawyers, doctors and well-known authors. In every issue published before a Jewish holiday, “מועדים לשמחה” was written in large Hebrew letters, and before the High Holidays the title “תזכו לשנים רבות” appeared in Hebrew. The newspaper is accompanied by many advertisements of Jewish businesses in Turkey, kosher restaurants, advertisements of Israeli companies, and more. In some issues, Turkish stamps were glued on the title page.
Volume: 49 cm. 180 bound issues. hard cardboard cover. Overall very good condition.
Pocket Calendar for the Year 5626 (1865), Amsterdam, printed by Yohanan Yaakimstahal, Israel Lavissen, David Propes print. Hebrew and Dutch.
On the title page, a handwritten inscription regarding the “Miracle of Sukkot, ” which occurred that year and was intended to be publicized for future generations: “For the last generation to know, in this year a great miracle happened to our brethren, the children of Israel, here in the city of Amsterdam. After rain fell on the ground almost every day from Rosh Chodesh Elul onward, the rain ceased on the night of the first night of Sukkot, to the joy of the children of Israel who observe the commandment of the Sukkah, and throughout the days of Sukkot, no more rain fell until the first day of Cheshvan 5627.”
Along with the annual calendar and holidays, it includes the Traveler’s Prayer, the date of the Molad of the moon, a historical calendar noting the years of the arrival of the Sephardim in Amsterdam, the Ashkenazim, the construction of the synagogue, the steamship departure dates, and more. Two sections – Hebrew and Dutch.
[98] pages. 11 cm. Newly bound with gold lettering on the spine. Original parchment inner wrapper. Condition: Good.
Passover – “He Who Waits for the Table of Others, the World Darkens Before Him” – Published by the United Jewish Education Board, Melbourne (Australia), 1933.
The second booklet edited by Mr. Newman, Director of the United Jewish Education Board in Melbourne, focusing on the Passover holiday. The booklet explores the customs of the Seder night, with Rabbi Newman explaining the origins of the laws and customs surrounding the Seder according to the order of the Haggadah, while also addressing the historical enslavement of the Jewish people during the medieval exiles by European nations as part of the narrative. In the introduction, Newman discusses Bedikat Chametz (the search for leaven), the counting of the Omer, and the origins of the mourning customs observed during this period. The final page is somewhat humorous, depicting how the parting of the Red Sea might have appeared through the eyes of the Egyptians.
14, [2] pages. Condition: Very Good.
“The sword that turns and the horrors of a world war threaten to destroy and annihilate everything…” A non-traditional Haggadah, Kibbutz Givat HaShlosha, Passover 1939 – Numerous sections dealing with the struggles and challenges faced by the kibbutz members in its establishment, the fight against the Arab enemy, the persecuted Jews of Europe under Nazi Germany, the struggle to open the gates of the land for Jewish immigration, the efforts to revive the desolate land, the founding of the kibbutz, and more. Stencil print with illustrations. Rare.
At the beginning of the Haggadah: “Passover! A day that has been preserved for thousands of years as the day of our departure from the house of bondage, and the path through the ravages of labor, persecution, the Inquisition, destruction, and pogroms…”, Following this, the text continues: “For thus says the one who awakens:…Today is a day unlike any other. A day worse than the day we went into exile; we went out to change the face of the world. How can I mourn, and not mourn, the man whose heart was shattered by disaster?” A lament of Čapek.
The Haggadah then includes a full section discussing the collaboration between Nazi Germany and Czechoslovakia (an event that occurred shortly before the publication of the Haggadah): “But it is absurd to believe that victory can be achieved in a war in the situation to which the German people have been brought. But the fascist barbarians sharpen their swords. They played a game of degradation with the Czechoslovak Republic. We want to tell the Czechs that we are ashamed of this game, that hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens are ashamed of it, and that many more Germans would be ashamed of it. If only a portion of the energy spent to fool them had been invested in their education. The incitement by the men who call themselves ‘representatives of Germany’ against the people of Hoskomansky and Masaryk cannot harm the Czechs. This incitement only brings shame upon the Germans.”
There is also a section beginning with: “32 months and 9 days the battle in Spain lasted, ” which talks about the 1.3 million casualties in the fighting and the immense destruction caused by General Franco: “Even the dead and the tortured will stir, they will stir and never calm down, ” followed by a call of support to the freedom fighters in Spain.
Next, there is a segment titled “Darkness with no escape for the Jews, ” describing the suffering of Jews in Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Romania, who “live lives of despair only, ” compared to the Jews in the Land of Israel, whose lives are “a manifestation of the efforts of a great Jewish force.” Later, the section titled “In times of siege and constraint” describes the difficulties faced by the Jewish immigrants to Palestine and the “passion for rooting and stability” that drives and accompanies the new settlements upon their arrival on the land. It concludes with “a sign and testimony that we have not despaired, nor have our hands weakened.”
This Haggadah reflects the profound struggles and aspirations of the Jewish people during a time of intense global and local turmoil, weaving historical events and the challenges faced by Jews in Europe with the hope and determination of those building a future in the Land of Israel.
Following this, a strong declaration appears against the closing of the gates of the land by the British and the continued struggle for immigration: “Even if we are faced with murder upon our ascent, we will fortify and cling to every piece of Jewish land in the country. We will not leave barren land purchased by us. It is better for the land to be occupied by Jews who will want to expel them, than for it to remain uncultivated…”.
The text continues with a section titled “To the Hebrew People, ” calling for the Jewish people to rise up and join the struggle for Jewish existence worldwide, especially in the Land of Israel: “We are the children of our homeland, together… We will build our future correctly together, old and young, until the day of our victory and our justice will shine like the sun…”
The last six pages of the Haggadah, under the heading “The Scroll of Giv’at HaShlosha”, narrate the challenges and difficulties faced by the founders of Kibbutz Givat HaShlosha starting in 1923. They describe how, during the difficult times for the Jewish settlement, a small group of believers left behind the “devastation of despair” and resolutely rebuilt their settlement, facing all the challenges before them, with help from immigration from Germany and Poland, their battle against the Arab enemy, and the heavy losses the kibbutz endured in its early years. It ends with the words: “The turning sword and the horrors of a world war threaten to destroy and annihilate everything…” and a call for the urgent absorption of Jewish refugees into the Land of Israel for its salvation.
Kibbutz “Givat HaShlosha” was founded on May 1, 1925, by groups from the HaShomer HaTzair movement: the Achva group, a group from Ein Harod, and the Ma’avar group (most of whom were also from Achva). In the late 1920s and early 1930s, a large group of workers from the Kibbutz Chotzvei Ha’avanim in Kluszowa, Poland, joined the kibbutz. It was one of the most active kibbutzim in the struggle for Israeli independence, and before the establishment of the state, Palmach training groups worked and trained there. Weapons of the Hagana were hidden in the kibbutz’s arms caches. (The British raided it, along with other kibbutzim, during the “Black Saturday” events).
38 pages. A stain runs through the pages of the Haggadah. Light tears at the upper part of the cover edges, stains on the cover. The back cover is missing. Condition: Good – Moderate.
Non-Traditional Haggadah – Nahal Kalia. Most sections of this Haggadah focus on the lifestyle and humor of the first settlers in the Kalia outpost by the Dead Sea before it became a kibbutz. No publication date.
“I am ready and prepared to fulfill the mitzvah of telling the story of the Exodus from Egypt together with all the house of Israel in Kalia…”. Instead of the story of Rabbi Tarfon, it reads: “It once happened that Rabbi Itzik, Rabbi Menachem… were reclining in Kalia and spoke of its future all through the night. And again, they discussed air conditioners, cold water, the field school, and flourishing agriculture.” The Four Sons are depicted as different types of workers. The “והגדת לבנך” section deals with guard duties and quarrels among the members. The Ten Plagues humorously describe the region’s hardships: mosquitoes, Jericho rose, sand flies, with the “Plague of the Firstborn” reading: “How the mighty have fallen in the heat plague.” The song “And It Came to Pass at Midnight” refers to nights of readiness, while “How Many Good Things G-d Has Done for Us” expresses gratitude for the establishment of the Kalia outpost. The “אחד מי יודע?” section relates to well drillers, field yields, and guards. Additional humorous sections include references to “Tzippi to Bentzi, ” “Ariela to Dror, ” and others.
22 pages. 22×17 cm. Tear with loss in the middle of page 5. Overall good condition.
Two Non-Traditional Haggadahs – Israel, 1950s and 1980s
Non-Traditional Haggadah. Published by the General Federation of Labor in Israel, Tel Aviv-Jaffa Workers Council – Department of Culture and Youth. Stencil print with illustrations (c. 1950). Alongside excerpts from the traditional Haggadah, such as Ma Nishtana, Avadim Hayinu, and The Four Sons, contemporary texts appear – an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence for the “Third Cup, ” accompanied by illustrations of the Israeli flag and Star of David. For the “Fourth Cup, ” the piece “The Silver Platter” is included: “…We are the silver platter on which the Jewish state was given… and the rest will be told in the chronicles of Israel.”
Passover Haggadah for the Second Seder for New Immigrants, 1980 (Tashm). Published by the Kfar Saba Municipality and the Immigration Committee. Printed excerpts from the traditional Haggadah. A tear follows along the upper left portion of the pages.
Sing a Song for Passover – A Passover Song Booklet, published by the Chaplain of Base Camp 781, Passover 1973. Rare.
Spring and Passover songs accompanied by illustrations: Lamnatzeach Mizmor Shir, Kol Rina, Sisu et Yerushalayim, Lo Agada, Ufaratzta, Bashana Haba’a, Nitzanim Nir’u Ba’aretz, Shiro Shel Aba, and additional songs.
[12] pages. Good condition.
“The problems of absorbing immigration from Iraq are numerous and difficult, mainly social and Zionist, but these surely do not interest the wealthy man from Manchester…” – An official letter from a representative of the Histadrut HaKlallit (General Federation of Laborers in Eretz Israel) to the main office of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) in Jerusalem. The letter addresses the Histadrut’s “handling” of Iraqi immigrants who arrived in Eretz Israel. 15th of Menachem Av 5703 (August 16, 1943) – Stamped by the Histadrut and bearing a faded handwritten signature.
At the beginning of the letter, it is stated that the estimated number of Iraqi immigrants at that time was approximately 10-12 thousand people. The letter details the division of Iraqi immigrants into physical labor roles by location: “The Jews of Baghdad, like all merchants, despise physical labor in general… therefore, there are almost no villagers among them.” It is further described that, despite this, “a small stream of immigrants from Baghdad turned, out of necessity, to physical labor, ” yet “their adaptation to work is very difficult.” The writer outlines the distribution of Iraqi immigrants in various cities and adds that
“the Histadrut runs a special club for Iraqi immigrants where they study Hebrew, the Bible, the history of the Zionist movement, etc. Assemblies and celebrations for Iraqi immigrants are also held there.” The Histadrut also succeeded in directing several Iraqi immigrants to agricultural training in various cities. Regarding the educational institutions for the children of Iraqi immigrants, it is stated: “The children of Iraqi immigrants generally study in general schools, and in Jerusalem among the old Yishuv, there are also ‘Hadarim’ of the Eastern type.” At the end of the letter, it is noted that:
“The problems of absorbing immigration from Iraq are numerous and difficult, mainly social and Zionist, but these surely do not interest the wealthy man from Manchester…”
[1] Leaf. Tear with loss at the bottom without damage to the text. Light stains. Filing holes. Condition: good-moderate.
Tale The Nonnes Preestes Tale (in Middle English; modern English: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale) by the 14th-century English poet and author Geoffrey Chaucer. The manuscript of the tale and its title illustration were created by Arthur Szyk (unsigned). Bound in a vellum cover with a tied ribbon, the manuscript features Szyk’s elegant handwriting in black and red ink, 19 lines per page (visible pencil guidelines for the lines), initial letters in larger type, and the first letter of the tale’s title in gold, green, and red ink on the cover.
An ancient English fable from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the story is an allegory featuring talking animals. The tale conveys a moral against pride and flattery and highlights the value of wit and wisdom over arrogance and crudeness. (The tale’s name, “The Nun’s Priest, ” refers to the medieval custom of priests accompanying nuns in monasteries to cater to their religious and ceremonial needs, such as conducting mass and offering spiritual guidance. The tale connects its narrative to the preceding monk’s tale, hence its title.)
Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340s – October 25, 1400) An English poet, author, courtier, royal official, and diplomat, as well as a philosopher and astronomer. Known as the “Father of English Literature, ” he is considered one of the greatest English poets. He is best known to the public for his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, which, like all his works, was written in Middle English.
[35] written pages. 20 cm. Slight stains on the page edges. Condition: Good.
“Admatenu Esh Lohevet” – “Our Land, A Blazing Fire” – A Never-Before-Published Story Addressing the Struggles of Hebrew Youth in Eretz Israel Amid the Challenges of the 1936-1939 Arab Riots, by Hagana Member and Senior Commander Moshe Matari – Handwritten Pages, and the Book Typewritten.
A story about the Zionist movement’s struggle for independence in the face of the war declared by the Arabs of Eretz Israel against the Jewish people’s construction enterprise. In the introduction to the story, Matari explains that the high command of the Hagana was still grappling with outdated military concepts while daring gangs fought in the mountains at a level the organization had not encountered before. A plot that deals with the struggles of Hebrew youth in Eretz Israel against a wave of terror they had never known, alongside the Zionist movement’s promises of political independence. The story itself is typewritten from beginning to end (19 pages). The table of contents and an additional 9 pages, dealing with the Zionist movement’s attitude toward the White Paper, written in Moshe Matari’s handwriting, serve as an introduction and background to the story.
Moshe Matri was a senior commander in the Haganah and one of the commanders in the defensive battles against the Arabs in the War of Independence in 1948. After the establishment of the state, he served as the head of the Civil Division in the IDF Planning Directorate and spent much of his life documenting the struggle for the independence of the Jewish people in their land. Among the books he authored is “Twenty Years of Shield and Sword in Haifa” – 1988, and others.
Chok L’Yisrael with the Five Books of Torah, with Commentaries and Additions, Sefer Shemot, Published by Levin-Epstein, Warsaw, 1908 – Featuring an Illustration and Description of a Jewish Family’s Rescue During the Ukrainian Pogroms (1918–1920).
On the front page, there is a drawing of a bombarded Jewish home, accompanied by a description of the miraculous rescue. At the top of the page, it states: “לזיכרון י”ב שבט תרע”ט” and “אונד השי”ת קונט מיר העלפען אונד מיר זינד מציל” – “In memory of the 12th of Shevat, 5679” and “And with G-d’s help, we were saved.”
The Gregorian Equivalent of the 12th of Shevat is January 13, 1919.
The pogroms in Ukraine during the Russian Civil War, known as the “Petliura Pogroms”, were a series of widespread massacres carried out against Jews across Ukrainian territories between 1917 and 1920, with 1919 being the most devastating year. In early January 1919, the first significant pogrom took place in Ovruch, Volhynia, when the forces of the nationalist Ukrainian Hetman Oleksiy Kozyr-Zirka seized the town from the Bolsheviks. During the massacre, 80 Jews were killed. Over the following two weeks, Kozyr-Zirka led additional pogroms in nearby settlements. Around the same time, further massacres were conducted in Zhytomyr, Berdichev, and several villages by other Hetmans, such as Volynets and Nykyfor Hryhoriev. On February 15, 1919, one of the most brutal pogroms of the Russian Civil War occurred in Proskurov. Following an attempted Bolshevik uprising, forces loyal to the Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Samosenko slaughtered over 1,600 Jews within a matter of hours and wounded another 1,000.
Decorative binding embossed with the monogram “David Toch.” Wear on the spine. Condition: good.
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