The History of Israel from the Lenses of the Friedman Family
By: Hadas Friedman
As an Israeli citizen and member of society, I recently found out that I know an alarmingly small amount of information about my country’s history and family’s past. I am Jewish and was born in Israel, which means that not knowing anything about my past is unforgivable. My grandfather, who was born in Turkey, had risked his life while serving in the Six Day War, and my mother lived in the time of Israel’s first political assassination in over 2000 years and was influenced by it. I experienced examples of the Israeli Palestinian conflict, the most clear one being the 2014 Operation Protective Edge. I remember going back and forth to and from the safe room for the entirety of summer break, never knowing when will be the next alarm and how long I will need stay inside.
In June 1967, the war which later became known as the Six Day War, changed the map of Israel dramatically. There was immense hostility between Israel and Syria, supported by Egypt and Jordan. Before too much damage could be made, Israel struck back, starting the third Israeli Arab war. Twenty-eight years later, Yitzhak Rabin, Israel’s former prime minister, had been assassinated by a fellow Jew due to him negotiating with the Palestinians in order to achieve peace. Fast forward 19 years, and Operation Protective Edge affects every person who lived at that time, including me. My family’s history and experiences are deeply connected with the Israeli Arab Conflict, and as an Israeli citizen, I feel obligated to share and record my family’s influence on my country’s past, present, and future.
In the year 1967, my grandfather, Yom-Tov Appo, experienced and participated in the the Six Day War. Since the war started while he was in the Miluim stage, the part of the serving in the IDF in which the soldier is not officially in the military anymore but still has to come back from time to time. Yom-Tov was immediately drafted to join the war and fought to defend Israel from the surrounding Arab countries which threatened to destroy it. He was proud to serve in the war and help defend his country, and did not regret joining even as close friends of him fell in the line of duty. Yom-Tov was injured in the Six Day War, but even then he was optimistic that the war was to the benefit of Israel, and was even disappointed when he learnt he couldn’t finish what he started. After the war ended, Former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin visited my grandfather at the hospital and shook his hand. When Yom-Tov was asked whether he regretted going to war he exclaimed: “No, absolutely not. Infact,I feel extremely proud." (Yom-Tov, May 2018)
The main connection between my family and all three historical events is that they happened in Israel, the country of the Jews- our country. All three historical events greatly influenced the present and future of warfare, security, and awareness of Israel from the third Israeli Arab war, to the first political murder in 2000 years, to the present day conflicts in the Gaza and Palestine. All of those affect who I am today, a proud Israeli citizen who wants to help improve her country’s future. The experiences of my grandfather, and the fact that he did not regret going to the war even as he almost died helps me be more courageous in situations I often feel are hopeless. I know I can’t give up after all of the experiences that my grandfather and the people who came before him went through.
While I don’t believe in the concept of “if there is no past, there is no future”, I do know one thing for sure: I am a proud Israeli citizen, who was taught by the experiences of my family. Although I may not be a orthodox Jew, I still speak the Hebrew language with pride and honor, and now that I know more about my grandfather’s experience in the war, I feel connected to my country and family more than ever.
Works cited
Harris, Nathaniel. Israel and the Arab Nations in Conflict. Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1999.
"Arab-Israeli wars." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2018. school.eb.co.uk/levels/intermediate/article/Arab-Israeli-wars/275102. Accessed 9 May. 2018.
Dearden, Lizzie. “Israel-Gaza Conflict: 50-Day War by Numbers: 2,139 Palestinians Dead.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 27 Aug. 2014, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-conflict-50-day-war-by-numbers-9693310.html.
Friedman, Hadas, and Yom-Tov Appo. “Genealogy Interview.” 22 May 2018.
By: Hadas Friedman
As an Israeli citizen and member of society, I recently found out that I know an alarmingly small amount of information about my country’s history and family’s past. I am Jewish and was born in Israel, which means that not knowing anything about my past is unforgivable. My grandfather, who was born in Turkey, had risked his life while serving in the Six Day War, and my mother lived in the time of Israel’s first political assassination in over 2000 years and was influenced by it. I experienced examples of the Israeli Palestinian conflict, the most clear one being the 2014 Operation Protective Edge. I remember going back and forth to and from the safe room for the entirety of summer break, never knowing when will be the next alarm and how long I will need stay inside.
In June 1967, the war which later became known as the Six Day War, changed the map of Israel dramatically. There was immense hostility between Israel and Syria, supported by Egypt and Jordan. Before too much damage could be made, Israel struck back, starting the third Israeli Arab war. Twenty-eight years later, Yitzhak Rabin, Israel’s former prime minister, had been assassinated by a fellow Jew due to him negotiating with the Palestinians in order to achieve peace. Fast forward 19 years, and Operation Protective Edge affects every person who lived at that time, including me. My family’s history and experiences are deeply connected with the Israeli Arab Conflict, and as an Israeli citizen, I feel obligated to share and record my family’s influence on my country’s past, present, and future.
In the year 1967, my grandfather, Yom-Tov Appo, experienced and participated in the the Six Day War. Since the war started while he was in the Miluim stage, the part of the serving in the IDF in which the soldier is not officially in the military anymore but still has to come back from time to time. Yom-Tov was immediately drafted to join the war and fought to defend Israel from the surrounding Arab countries which threatened to destroy it. He was proud to serve in the war and help defend his country, and did not regret joining even as close friends of him fell in the line of duty. Yom-Tov was injured in the Six Day War, but even then he was optimistic that the war was to the benefit of Israel, and was even disappointed when he learnt he couldn’t finish what he started. After the war ended, Former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin visited my grandfather at the hospital and shook his hand. When Yom-Tov was asked whether he regretted going to war he exclaimed: “No, absolutely not. Infact,I feel extremely proud." (Yom-Tov, May 2018)
The main connection between my family and all three historical events is that they happened in Israel, the country of the Jews- our country. All three historical events greatly influenced the present and future of warfare, security, and awareness of Israel from the third Israeli Arab war, to the first political murder in 2000 years, to the present day conflicts in the Gaza and Palestine. All of those affect who I am today, a proud Israeli citizen who wants to help improve her country’s future. The experiences of my grandfather, and the fact that he did not regret going to the war even as he almost died helps me be more courageous in situations I often feel are hopeless. I know I can’t give up after all of the experiences that my grandfather and the people who came before him went through.
While I don’t believe in the concept of “if there is no past, there is no future”, I do know one thing for sure: I am a proud Israeli citizen, who was taught by the experiences of my family. Although I may not be a orthodox Jew, I still speak the Hebrew language with pride and honor, and now that I know more about my grandfather’s experience in the war, I feel connected to my country and family more than ever.
Works cited
Harris, Nathaniel. Israel and the Arab Nations in Conflict. Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1999.
"Arab-Israeli wars." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2018. school.eb.co.uk/levels/intermediate/article/Arab-Israeli-wars/275102. Accessed 9 May. 2018.
Dearden, Lizzie. “Israel-Gaza Conflict: 50-Day War by Numbers: 2,139 Palestinians Dead.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 27 Aug. 2014, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-conflict-50-day-war-by-numbers-9693310.html.
Friedman, Hadas, and Yom-Tov Appo. “Genealogy Interview.” 22 May 2018.
