Lionhearts: Heroes of Israel: Essays in Their Own Words

by Michael Bar-Zohar

A volume of heroic stories from Zionist history represents the collaboration of fifty of its leading political, military, and cultural figures, including Benjamin Netanyahu and Yitzhak Shamir. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446523585
• ISBN13: 9780446523585
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 330 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.8" x 9.6"
• Age Range: 13 years and up

Customer Reviews

"TO GIVE WITHOUT ASKING ANYTHING IN RETURN"

This is the title of the final chapter written by former Prime Minister, Benyamin Netanyahu about a young Israeli special forces member named Nir Poraz who, in Yoni Netanyahu style, tried to rescue a captive Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldier, Nachshon Waxman, held by Palestinian terrorists. He led the way of the Israeli forces and was killed along with Waxman in the operation on October 14, 1994. There are 52 similar chapters about Israeli's who did similar or just simply patriotic, brave acts on behalf of their nation written not only by Israeli statesmen but also citizens who had firsthand knowledge of their personages and travails. The book starts with Joseph Trumpeldor's story and death. He was an ardent, young Zionist born in Russia who fought in WWI and who died when militant arabs invaded Kibbutz Tel Hai in Upper Galilee. This book was written to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the creation of the modern state of Israel in 1998. It is divided into 7 chronological sections; each section summarizes the crises facing the nation during those time periods and gives a brief history of them. I couldn't make it through the introduction without a few shed tears, so be forewarned. Not all of the stories are so tragic, though most are. I felt many times like I was reading a chapter of Judges or Joshua except that I was transported 3000 plus years ahead. I always wondered what were the names of the 300 men that Gideon chose as fighters because their names are not given anywhere in scripture. To my mind also came the words from the faith chapter, chapter 11, in the book of Hebrews, in the christian bible. 'These all died in faith' and about Moses 'he refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of G-d than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin'. I'm sure there are many other brave souls whose stories are not told herein. For those unsung heroes, Isaiah inspired by G-d wrote 'Behold, I have indelibly imprinted you on the palm of each of My hands; O Zion, your walls are continually before Me' (49:16). I particularly enjoyed reading about Moshe Dayan, although he does not have an entire chapter written about him, but he is mentioned many times as in the chapter about his friend "Amos Yarkoni" who was a palestinian IDF fighter. You finish this book, you'll have to agree that Israel is also a 'land of the brave'.

An excellent collection of true heroes

One trait is shared by all of the individuals in this book, heroism. From all walks of life, disparate viewpoints, and from remote places around the world they rose up above the self, striving for a greater good. From one-armed Joseph Trumpledor, Russian war hero and Jewish legend, to Mordechai Anielewicz, young leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, these shine like beacons of hope and courage in even the darkest moments. Janusz Korczak gave his life to be with Jewish children in Treblinka, marching to the gas chambers even though he had been begged by 'fellow Gentiles' to leave them to their fate. Eli Cohen, the brilliant spy who risked, and lost, his very life in service in Damascus. Yoni Netanyahu, the daring commando leader whose death was the sole fatality suffered by Israeli forces conducting the greatest hostage rescue ever, at Entebbe. Chaim Shturman, proponent of coexistence between Arabs and Jews until the end of his days, though it cost him his life. Hannah Senesh, who, after having escaped the horrors of the Holocaust chose to return to that nightmare, ultimately sacrificing her own life in a mission behind Nazi lines. Orde Wingate, whose brief experience in Israel during the Mandate led him to challenge his fellow British for the sake of a downtrodden people not his own. Abd El-Karim Abd El-Rani, who challenged an enormous terrosist who was stabbing an Israeli girl to death in Jaffa, regardless of his advanced age and the fact that he was fasting for Ramadan and weakened, dying for his heroism by her side. Shula Cohen rescued countless Jews from Syrian torture and death. These are but a sample of the heroes in this book. An inspiring and uplifting book for anyone who believes in something greater than mere self-preservation.