Israel Beat

Mordechai Manuel Noah was a prominent Jewish-American who advocated creating a Jewish State in the Land of Israel. But in the interim, he created Ararat, City of Refuge in New York State. Thousands attended the inauguration but no one actually moved there. The Ararat cornerstone can be seen today at the Buffalo History Museum. Learn about this fascinating figure and hear in his own words his passion to see the Jewish people return to their indigenous homeland decades before the modern Zionist movement came into prominence.

NOTES:

* Ararat City of Refuge exhibit - Jewish Buffalo History Center

* Mapping Ararat augmented reality project from 2019

* Discourse on the Restoration of the Jews by Mordechai M. Noah - Full text

* Travels in England, France, Spain, and the Barbary States by Mordecai Manuel Noah - full text

* Major Noah: An American Patriot, American Zionist by Jerry Klinger

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In 1844 Warder Cresson, born a Philadelphia Quaker, became the first United States Consul to Jerusalem. While there, he fell in love with the Jewish faith and promoted the return of Jews to the land of Israel. Upon his return his family sued him for his estate claiming he was a lunatic for converting to Judaism. The trial was called a fight for American religious freedom. Upon his return to Jerusalem, Cresson remarried and continued his proto-Zionist activity. Hear Warder Cresson in his own words, news coverage of the trial and his connection to Moby Dick author Herman Melville and British writer William Makepeace Thackeray.

NOTES:

* The Key of David by Warder Cresson - Archive.org

* The Key of David by Warder Cresson - Text version from Jewish-American History Foundation

* Quaker, Shaker, Rabbi: Warder Cresson, The Story of a Philadelphia Mystic - Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography

* The Fight for American Religious Freedom By Jerry Klinger

* Warder Cresson and the First Amendment - American History & Jewish History Blog

* The Mystery Convert of Jerusalem - Warder Cresson grave discovered in 2013

* America’s First Consul to Jerusalem - My Jewish Learning

* Dreams and Diplomacy in the Holy Land: American Consuls in Jerusalem in the 19th Century

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Dr. Moshe Wallach was strict with his own Jewish observance and strict with the staff and maintenance of the Shaare Zedek hospital, which opened in 1902, a 20-minute donkey ride from the Old City of Jerusalem. Hear stories of this colorful Jerusalem character, who ran the hospital for 45 years and of head nurse Schwester Selma Mayer whose kindness was as legendary as her dedication.

NOTES:

* My Life and Experiences at Shaare Zedek by Schwester Selma

* Saints Among Us - Time Magazine, 1975

* HaAchot Selma - Central Zionist Archives

* Sister Bolisa, adopted daughter of Dr. Moshe Wallach

* Biography of Dr. Moshe Wallach

* 120 Years of the Shaare Zedek Hospital

* American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center history

* Selma Mayer - Jewish Women’s Archive

* Current use of Old Shaare Zedek building - Social Space

* Nevia organization - Currently located at the Old Shaare Zedek building

* Jerusalem Biennale art exhibition at old Shaare Zedek building

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The Jewish holiday of Purim celebrated the defeat of the wicked Haman and the victory of Esther and Mordechai. Back in 1991, Saddam Hussein of Iraq shot Scud missiles into Israel. The Gulf War ended on Purim and the similarities were not lost on those who lived through the gas masks, safe rooms, and rocket attacks. Hear from those who lived through it in their own words in this special Purim podcast.

Thank you to the participants who appear in the following order:

* Reb Yankala Shemesh

* Haim Roman

* Mordechai Fisher

* Raz TelChai

* Gidon Ariel

* Moti Lieberman

* Dov Lipman

Be sure to check out my corresponding article in the Jerusalem Post.

NOTES:

* The Gulf War, 1991 From Gas Masks to Purim Masks - Times of Israel

* Israelis Mark Purim to End of Gulf War - Sun Sentinel

* Purim Garb Inspired by Gulf War - JTA

* Isaac Stern concert goes on despite rocket attacks - JTA

* Purim miracles: From Saddam and beyond by Michael Freund - Jerusalem Post

* Rebbe Predicted War’s End by Purim - JTA

* Fast of Esther Prayers Said for Sparing Israel - JTA

* Gulf War Miracles - Aish HaTorah

* Purim Saddam - Chabad

* Rout of Haman, Hussein Celebrated As Israelis Put Away Their Gas Masks - JTA

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Hebron’s ancient Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs was banned for Jews to enter for 700 years. But after Israel’s stunning victory in the Six Day War, General Moshe Dayan was determined to explore it. The only person small enough to fit inside the opening was 12-year-old Michal Arbel. Hear her description of this extraordinary exploration and the mysteries hidden below.

NOTES:

* Living with the Bible by Moshe Dayan, 1978.

* Written on the Dog's Skin: On the perception of the work in S. Y. Agnon by Michal Arbel

* Times of Change: Jewish Literatures in the Modern Era - Essays in Honor of Dan Miron co-edited by Michal Arbel

* Yehuda Arbel, a veteran Air Force pilot known as "Mr. Dakota" passed away. His daughter: "He was a tremendous inspiration - Israel HaYom news

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Dr. Max Nordau helped Theodor Herzl found the Zionist Congress. Despite his secular background he was inspired by the words “VeShavu Banim l'Gvulam – Our children will return to their borders.” Hear Nordau in his own words describe how he was swayed to the Zionist cause and seek a homeland of Jews in the Land of Israel.

NOTES:

* Address by Max Nordau at the First Zionist Congress

* Max Nordau biography - Jewish Virtual Library

* Max Nordau: A Man of Vision and Obscure Legacy

* Rachel and the power of prayer

* V'Shavu Banim l'Gvulam

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For generations, Rachel’s Tomb (Kever Rochel) has attracted Jewish women for prayer and blessing. One of these was Lady Judith Montefiore, a British philanthropist who funded the rebuilding of the site after it was damaged in the 1837 earthquake. Hear here eloquent, poetic descriptions of the Land of Israel’s beauty and why the Tomb of Rachel inspired her. Plus, learn beauty tips and recipes from lady Judith’s Jewish Manual, the first Jewish kosher cookbook in English.

NOTES:

* Rachel Weeping by Frederick M. Strickert

* Judith Montefiore biography - Jewish Women’s Archive

* Judith Montefiore on How to Cook Like a Proper Jewish Lady

* Rachel’s Tomb, a Jewish Holy Place - Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

* Notes from a Private journal of a visit to Egypt and Palestine, by way of Italy and the Mediterranean by Lady Judith Cohen Montefiore

* Women named Dina gather at new Dina Street in Jerusalem - Times of Israel

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The Jewish farmers who escaped the pogroms in Eastern Europe and Russia rebuilt their lives in Latin America. Learn about Baron Maurice de Hirsch and the Jewish Colonisation Association, his connection to Theodor Herzl and the once thriving town of Moisés Ville. Hear excerpts from Alberto Gerchunoff’s famous book Los Gauchos Judíos (The Jewish Gauchos of the Pampas).

Thank you to Kehila Latina.

NOTES:

* Kehila Latina community Jerusalem - Facebook page

* Kehila Latina: Bringing Jerusalem's Latino immigrants together - Jerusalem Post

* Moisés Ville wants to be a World Heritage Site

* The Jewish gauchos of the pampas by Alberto Gerchunoff - full text

* La MISTERIOSA ciudad JUDÍA de Argentina | Moisés Ville - video

* Outpost on Pampas Where Jews Once Found Refuge Wilts as They Leave

* OLEI: Tu Aliado en la Aliá y la Integración en Israel

* Jewish Gauchos’ ‘legacy’: Film Recalls Argentina’s Immigrant Colonies

* Jewish Charitable Association (formerly the Jewish Colonization Association)

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Many recited blessings when they voted for the first time in an independent, democratic Jewish State in 1949. Hear memories of the exciting days of Israel’s first elections amid war and learn about the colorful candidates including Rachel Cohen-Kagan of WIZO, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Amin-Salim Jarjora, the Christan-Arab mayor of Nazareth, former militant Lechi fighter Nathan Yellin-Mor, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Maimon who was arrested by the British for Zionism, Zecharia Glosca of the Association of Yemenis in Israel and a moving memoir by Rabbi Moshe Yekutiel Alpert who wore his Shabbat best to the polling booth.

Municipal elections in Israel are February 27, 2024, the new date after being reschedule twice due to Operation Iron Swords. For the official website on how to vote and list of candidates click here: https://bchirot-muni.moin.gov.il/

NOTES:

* Diary of a Muchtar in Jerusalem: The History of the Beit Yisrael Neighborhood and its Surroundings in the Writings of Rabbi Moshe Yekutiel Alpert (1938-1952)

* “The Holiest Day of My Life”: A Personal Account of Israel’s 1st Elections in 1949

* Israel to Vote Today in First National Elections; Campaign Reaches High Peak

* Israeli Electoral History: Elections to the 1st Knesset

* Election Day Passes Quietly in Israel - JTA

* ISRAEL: Cabinet and elections (1949) - British Pathe

* Britain Recognises Israel (1949) - British Pathe

* PALESTINE - ISRAEL ELECTIONS - British Movietone / AP

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The Jerusalem park called Gan Sacher attracts picnic-goers, athletes, and families but back in 1967 it was the planned site of a cemetery for the projected mass casualties of the invading Arab armies. But Israel’s lighting victory in the Six Day War meant a large cemetery was not necessary. Learn about Harry Sacher, the Zionist philanthropist for whom the site is named who helped draft the Balfour Declaration which declared Palestine as a Jewish homeland.

Also learn about the little-known cemetery from 1948, above Gan Sacher, created when the Jordanians occupied the Mount of Olives. Today, people still visit the grave of the great Hasidic leader Rabbi Gedalia Moshe Goldman, the Zvhiller Rebbe, who once sacrificed his freedom for a fellow Jew in a Soviet prison.

NOTES:

* Zionism and the Jewish Future by Harry Sacher

* Auction of copy of declaration establishing State of Israel

* To Save a Friend - Gedalia Moshe Goldman, Rebbe of Zvhil

* Rabbi Gedalie Moishe Goldman

* Praying at the grave of the Rebbe of Zvhil in a hidden corner of Jerusalem

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