South African Jews pivotal to Israel’s early survival

JORDAN MOSHE

These South Africans, who are recognised for their invaluable role in the War of Independence, number among those whose selfless commitment we recognise on Yom Hazikaron.

They share their experiences in 804: South African volunteers in Israel’s War of Independence, a recently produced documentary that tells the story of how a relatively small group of South Africans played an absolutely pivotal part in Israel’s early survival.

Screened at the Rabbi Cyril Harris Community Centre on 7 May, the documentary is a fitting tribute to Yom Hazikaron this year. It is a crucial reminder of South African Jews’ unique connection to Israel that dates back to its birth.

When Israel was established in May 1948, the surrounding Arab countries declared war on the state almost immediately. With no military, navy, or air force of its own, Israel faced devastating odds with the world almost certain that the state would fade from existence as quickly as it had been declared. Its desperate plight drew hundreds of volunteers – known in Hebrew as machalniks. Jews and non-Jews from numerous countries put their arms and expertise at its disposal.

Driven by religious, Zionist, ideological, or humanitarian motives, hundreds of those who volunteered came from South Africa. Because about 5% of the general population volunteered to fight in World War II, the expertise that these volunteers contributed was significant.

“The establishment of Israel was like an electric current that went through people everywhere,” says Ruth Stern, who served as a nurse in the medical corps. “It was a privilege to take part in something that we had waited 2 000 years for.”

Others were determined to avenge the six-million souls who had perished at the hands of the Nazis. The fact that survivors of the concentration camps were taking up arms and heading for Israel inspired many from South Africans to do the same. No matter their motives, all agreed it was time to give the Jews a home.

Subjecting themselves to an arduous journey that took four to five days, and often involved detours through African countries, South African machalniks travelled clandestinely to Israel as swiftly as they could. Often boarding ships alongside war refugees, they recall how surreal it felt to arrive at the port in Tel Aviv as night descended. “These survivors told us about what they had experienced in Europe along the way,” says Mendel Cohen. “When we arrived and saw the Carmel, they began singing Hatikvah immediately.”

As committed as they were, the situation they entered upon arrival was far from encouraging. With little to no military expertise, arms, or equipment, the Israelis were in dire straits and grateful for whatever they could get. One South African recalls how even his military training proved insufficient when he was sent to the front within hours of arriving. “We went from being boys to being men within one to two hours,” he says.

There was no single, organised army until 1948. The Israeli armed forces were made up of the Palmach, Irgun, and Lechi until that point – three individual groups, each with its own ideology and priorities. Though they all fought for the same cause, they didn’t see eye to eye on many issues, causing further tension in an already fraught reality. Fortunately, David Ben-Gurion stepped in and consolidated them all under one umbrella, merging skills and arms into a single body that would become the Israeli Defense Forces.

Nevertheless, the volunteers still faced a lack of supplies and experience. “We were complete idiots,” relates an air force volunteer. “I loaded four bombs into a plane, but pushed the wrong button over the target and dropped the wrong bomb. Because I hadn’t set it properly, it didn’t even go off.”

The biggest contribution made by South Africans was in medical expertise, radar, and air force experience. South African ingenuity was responsible for the creation of Israel’s first radar station, powered by an old lawnmower and rotated using the pedals of a bicycle. Fifty-one South African volunteers were qualified to administer medical assistance in some capacity, fighting for life in a different theatre of war.

Eighty of the 425 aircrew volunteers were South African, and because Israelis had virtually no flying experience, they were heavily relied upon to assist. Not only was the first aircraft flown into Israel from the diaspora provided by a South African, but Afrikaans was used as a form of communication between personnel before codes and ciphers were developed.

Many South African volunteers feel that the role played by machalniks is overlooked today. “If you asked the general staff in Israel today who the machal was, I’m sure they wouldn’t know a thing”, says air force volunteer, Smoky Simon. Others maintain that the legacy of machal lives on, and continues to be recognised and appreciated.

Whatever they feel, they all agree on one point: ein breira (there was no alternative).