|
|
The revival of the Jewish people in its land is outlined by displays of heroism and sacrifice, made by those Jews who gave their blood and soul for that land.
From the outset of the Yishuv - the Jewish settlement and community in Israel - at the end of the nineteenth century until the establishment of the State of Israel, the Yishuv struggled bravely and faced mortal dangers. Hundreds and thousands died in defensive battles to preserve the soul of the Yishuv, its property, the rights of all Jews to immigrate to Israel without hindrance, their right to settle on the land of Israel, and their right to national and political freedom and independence in the only homeland of the Jewish people.
The battles fought by the Jews of the Yishuv, before the establishment of the state and after its constitution, were many and diverse. They experienced riots and upheavals; a war against the Nazi enemy; struggles to save the despairing Jews of Europe and the Arab lands by bringing them into Israel; struggles with a foreign and hostile mandate authority; the War of Independence, the Sinai Operation, and the Six-Day War. Each battle had its fallen sacrifices. Each battle had its heroes.
In the ranks of heroes and fighters of the generation of revival, a special place is held for the fallen freedom fighters: those Jewish fighters who were captured by a foreign and brutal government while fulfilling their military tasks, and were sentenced to death or executed. See also Martyrs - Souvenir Sheet and Parachutists.
The Israel Postal Authority has taken a step to commemorate the glory of these fighters and heroes by issuing a stamp that symbolizes the aspirations of their people towards a life of freedom and independence, for which they gave their lives. The tab quotes Psalms 44:22: "Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long."
Fallen Freedom Fighters
- Yosef Lishanski
Hanged in Damascus on December 16, 1917, aged 31. Sentenced to death in a Turkish military court for his activities for the revival of the Jewish people in his homeland. Member of Nili. - Naaman Belkind
Hanged in Damascus on December 16, 1917, aged 28. Sentenced to death in a Turkish military court for his activities for the revival of the Jewish people in his homeland. Member of Nili. - Shlomo ben-Yosef
Hanged on June 29, 1938, aged 23. Sentenced to death in a British court in Palestine for an act of reprisal against rioters. Member of Betar and Etzel (see Etzel - Irgun Tzvai Leumi). - Havivah Reik (see also Haviva Reik)
Executed in November 1944, aged 30. Sent to Europe and put to death in Slovakia by the Germans for her activities in the struggle against the Nazi enemy. Member of the Haganah. - Hannah Szenes
Executed on November 7, 1944, aged 23. Parachuted into Europe and sentenced to death in a military court in Hungary for her activities against the Nazi enemy. Member of the Haganah. - Enzo Haim Sereni
Executed in Dachau camp in November 1944, aged 39. Parachuted into Europe and exiled to a concentration camp for his activities in the struggle against the Nazi enemy. Member of the Haganah. - Raphael Reis
Executed in November 1944, aged 30. Sent to Europe and put to death in Slovakia by the Germans for his activity in the struggle against the Nazi enemy. Member of the Haganah. - Zvi Ben-Ya'akov
Executed in November 1944, aged 22. Parachuted into Europe and put to death in Slovakia by the Germans for his activity in the struggle against the Nazi enemy. Member of the Haganah. - Perez Goldstein
Executed in a concentration camp in Germany in December 1944, aged 21. Parachuted into Europe and sent to a concentration camp for his activity in the struggle against the Nazi enemy. Member of the Haganah. - Aba Berdiccev
Executed on January 15, 1945, aged 27. Parachuted into Europe and sentenced to death in a Slovakian military court for his activity against the Nazi enemy. Member of the Haganah. - Eliahu Hakim
Hanged on March 22, 1945, aged 20. Sentenced to death in an Egyptian military court in Cairo for his activity in the struggle against the British rule in the Land of Israel. Member of Lehi (Lohamei Herut Yisrael - Fighters for the Freedom of Israel). - Eliahu Bet Tzuri
Hanged on March 22, 1945, aged 23. Sentenced to death in an Egyptian military court in Cairo for his activity in the struggle against the British rule in the Land of Israel. Member of Lehi. - Dov Gruner
Hanged on April 16, 1947, aged 35. Sentenced to death in a British military court in Palestine for his activity in the struggle against the British rule in the Land of Israel. Member of Etzel. - Mordechai Alkachi
Hanged on April 16, 1947, aged 22. Sentenced to death in a British military court in Palestine for his activity in the struggle against the British rule in the Land of Israel. Member of Etzel. - Yechiel-Dov Dresner
Hanged on April 16, 1947, aged 25. Sentenced to death in a British military court in Palestine for his activity in the struggle against the British rule in the Land of Israel. Member of Etzel. - Eliezer Kashani
Hanged on April 16, 1947, aged 24. Sentenced to death in a British military court in Palestine for his activity in the struggle against the British rule in the Land of Israel. Member of Etzel. - Yaakov Weiss
Hanged on July 29, 1947, aged 23. Sentenced to death in a British military court in Palestine for his activity in the struggle against the British rule in the Land of Israel. Member of Etzel. - Avshalom Haviv
Hanged on July 29, 1947, aged 21. Sentenced to death in a British military court in Palestine for his activity in the struggle against the British rule in the Land of Israel. Member of Etzel. - Meir Feinstein
Blew himself up in the cell of prisoners sentenced to death along with his friend Moshe Barazani, on April 21, 1947, aged 20. Sentenced to death in a British military court in Palestine for his activity in the struggle against the British rule in the Land of Israel. Member of Etzel. - Moshe Barazani
Blew himself up in the cell of prisoners sentenced to death along with his friend Meir Feinstein, on April 21, 1947, aged 26. Sentenced to death in a British military court in Palestine for his activity in the struggle against the British rule in the Land of Israel. Member of Lehi. - Meir Nakar
Hanged on July 29, 1947, aged 21. Sentenced to death in a British military court in Palestine for his activity in the struggle against the British rule in the Land of Israel. Member of Etzel. - Lt. Gideon Ben-David
Taken hostage by the enemy and executed in December 1947, aged 21. Member of Tzahal (Israel Defense Forces). - Lt. David Shemesh
Taken hostage by the enemy and executed in December 1947, aged 21. Member of Tzahal. - Lt. Ezra Afgin
Taken hostage by the enemy and executed in August 1948, aged 23. Member of Tzahal. - Lt. David Mizrahi
Taken hostage by the enemy and executed in August 1948, aged 25. Member of Tzahal. - Second Lt. Ya'akov Bukai
Taken hostage by the enemy and executed in August 1949, aged 19. Member of Tzahal. - Yosef Basri
Hanged on January 19, 1952, aged 29. Sentenced to death in a military court in Iraq on the grounds of Zionist activity. Member of the Haganah. - Shalom Salih
Hanged on January 19, 1952, aged 18. Sentenced in a military court in Iraq on the grounds of Zionist activity.Member of the Haganah. - Major Meir Bint Ben-Yosef
Died on a mission for the defense of Israel on December 21, 1955, aged 37. Member of Tzahal. - Uri Ilan
Taken hostage by the Syrians, died on a mission for the defense of Israel on January 13, 1955, aged 20. Member of Tzahal. - Second Lt. Dr. Moshe Gil Marzouk
Hanged on February 1, 1955, aged 28. Sentenced to death in a military high court in Cairo on the grounds of Zionist activity. Member of Tzahal. - Lt. Samuel Azaar
Hanged on February 1, 1955, aged 26. Sentenced to death in a military high court in Cairo on the grounds of Zionist activity. Member of Tzahal. - Major Eli Cohen
Hanged on May 18, 1965, aged 41. Sentenced to death in a military court in Damascus for his activity for the defense of Israel. Member of Tzahal.
