THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Ramat Rachel: Israeli Kibutz Symbol of Resilience
New Year Greetings
BLUESTEIN BROS.
Declers
By JANET MENDELSOHN
MOSHE
in SCrOID
-
3195 BELLEVUE
World Zionist Press Service
WA 2 2720
New Year Greetings
CADILLAC FENCE
& SUPPLY CO;
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WE 3-8755
Happy New Year
DAY'S FASHION SHOP
LATEST APPAREL
For a Happy Day Shop at Day's
Mr. and Mrs. David Silver
9450 Jos. Campau
Hamtramck, Mich.
Friday, September 9, 1983 113
The picturesque fields of
Kibutz Ramat Rachel ap-
pear to be in danger of
encroaching urbanization,
with their orchards looking
like the only thing halting
Jerusalem's growth.
Chances are the hardy
members of the kibutz will
succeed in preserving their
rural lifestyle — their per-
severance is almost . legen-
dary in Israel's history.
Founded on 90 dunams of
rock in 1926, Kibutz Ramat
Rachel (the Heights of
Rachel) overlooks the bibli-
cal road to Bethlehem and
the burial place of the bibli-
cal Rachel. In the early
1920s, it seemed hardly
possible to eke out an ag-
ricultural existence for 70
members with no arable soil
or any water .supply. Sur-
rounded by Bedouin and
Arab villagers, the settle-
ment was just beginning
when, in 1929, Arab rioters
burned the kibutz to the
ground.
Rebuilding the homes
and dining room was top
priority, and in addition
to communal buildings, a
lost and re-won this im-
portant stronghold, de-
spite high casualties.
As the War of Indepen-
dence raged on throughout
the country, the once
flourishing kibutz lay in
ruins.
With the war won, :40
members returned to the
site. With a strong push
from the Jewish Agency,
land was purchased and the
site and farm redeveloped.
Still opposite a Jordanian
outpost, Ramat Rachel had
its share of difficulties, but
it was not until June 5, 1967
that enemy shelling once
the hustle and bustle of this
modern kibutz, Israel's
legendary resilience can be
seen. Destroyed more than
once, Ramat Rachel, like
the state itself, always re-
covered and emerged to live
again, remembering its past
but concentrating on the fu-
ture.
Every day should be
passed as if it were to be our
last. ,
11.. ■•■
New Year Greetings to All
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120 Mt. Elliott
Established 1890
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Holiday Greetings
Best Wishes for The New Year
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ASSOCIATES
A view of Kibutz Ramat Rachel under seige dur-
ing Israel's 1948 War of Independence. The kibutz,
which was attacked in 1929, 1948 and 1967, has since
been rebuilt and is now well known for its tourist
facilities.
AUTO CITY IRON & METAL CO.
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Happy, Healthy
New Year To All
1
.
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Wishes You A
Happy, Healthy & Prosperous
NEW YEAR
cow shed and chicken
coops, the settlers also
started a bakery and a
laundry to serve nearby
Jerusalem.
again took its toll.
"Jordanian shells and
bombs rained on our settle-
ment for two days," reports
Katz. "A direct hit by a Jor-
danian shell destroyed the
kibutz dining room. Those
-- too young or too old to fight
spent some two days in the
shelters, and despite the
sound defeat of the Jorda-
nians, the Israeli forces and
the kibutz suffered heavy
losses.
"By the mid-40s we had
grown to almost 300
people," says Moshe Katz, a
50-year veteran of Kibutz
life. The keeper of Ramat
Rachel's extensive archives,
Katz, 70, vividly remem-
bers the War of Indepen-
dence.
"In May of 1948, we were
Once again the sur-
under siege, and heavy vivors of Ramat Rachel
Arab attacks destroyed began to pull themselves
many of our buildings once together to rebuild their
again," recalls Katz. "The lives and homes. The set-
Hagana opened the road to tlement's fourth dining -
Jerusalem, and children room was constructed.
and those women that could Israeli kibutz groups set-
be spared were evacuated tled in Ramat Rachel,
under heavy fire."
and it has become home
On May 22 of that year, for young pioneers froni
60 defenders of Ramat all over the country.
Rachel were attacked by Youngsters finishing
500 Arab troops. "The Gush their army service have
Etzion settlements had fal- married and stayed on
len only days before in the the kibutz.
south, and the road to
Today more than 100
Jerusalem was almost open members and 135 children
to enemy forces — only live at Ramat Rachel. The
Ramat Rachel stood in their kibutz is still growing. Just
path," explains Katz. "In a as Jerusalem apartments
massive attack, the Egyp- are edging closer and closer
tians were joined by Jorda- to the kibutz so to, the build-
nian soldiers from the east ing activities of Ramat
and Iraqi troops from the Rachel are increasing all
west as they advanced on the time.
Ramat Rachel."
A swimming pool, open to
Ammunition, food and visitors, overlooks the ter-
water, already in raced Hebron Hills.
dangerously low supply, Tourists of all kinds are ac-
were depleted in a 13- commodated at the kibutz.
hour battle, and 14 of the Bungalows, a youth hostel
kibutz defenders were and a guest house have been
killed. Almost all the sur- built out of the original liv-
vivors were badly in- ing quarters that were
jured. The entire settle- bombed in 1948, and vis-
ment was rubble after the itors from many places and
arduous battle, but the walks of life flock to this
site changed hands six quiet resort in the hills close
times as Israeli forces to Jerusalem.
time and time again won,
Today, if one looks past
Henry and Sonia Poslaniec 111
and the
LINCOLN BARBER 'SHOP
Wish All Their Friends and Customers
HAPPY NEW YEAR ...
- nzrizn rT
ruv5
THE SHERBERG FAMILY OF
ARDMORE SHOE REPAIR
would like to wish all our family
and friends a healthy and happy
New Year
UNITED 5000 HOUSEKEEPER
VACUUM CLEANER SPECIALISTS
wishes its customers a healthy,
happy and prosperous New Year
OAK PARK
28011 COOLIDGE
548.0098
•
BIRMINGHAM
TELEGRAPH at MAPLE
851-6222
The Greenspan Families
Want to wish you and yours
A Happy Healthy
NEW YEAR
Michigan Prescription and Warehouse Emporium
2260 Scott Lake Rd., Pontiac