The ‘35’

I live in a part of Israel 20 kilometers south of Jerusalem called Gush Etzion (the Etzion Block). To my way of thinking there is no more beautiful area in the country. The Judean hills with their ancient terraces all around... the clear cool air (even in July and August one sometimes needs a sweater in the evening)… the rich Biblical/archeological history tying nearly every hilltop and valley to a person or event in Jewish history... all combine to make me feel very much at home here.

However, today marks a sad chapter in the more recent history of this region, and as a journaler living within walking distance of where these events took place I would be remiss if I didn’t take time out from my 'navel-gazing' to pass along a brief description of this tragic story:

During Israel’s War of Independence, the area responsible for protecting Jerusalem’s southern flank was Gush Etzion. This small collection of agricultural settlements were themselves quite vulnerable due to the difficulty in maintaining supply lines, and the Arab armies took full advantage of the Etzion Block’s relative isolation to lay siege to the four kibbutzim; Kfar Etzion, Masuot yitzhchak, Ein Tzurim and Revadim.

On Wednesday January 14^th, 1948, under cover of darkness, the Palmach (the elite strike force of the Haganah) sent a group of 40 reserve soldiers (mostly students from Hebrew University who were seasoned veterans) on foot from Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem neighborhood towards kibbutz Ein Tzurim. In their 30-40 kg packs they carried first-aid supplies, plasma, weapons and ammunition.

Unfortunately, the steep terraced hillsides made for such slow going that they were less than half way to their destination as dawn approached. The commander, Danny Moss, made the difficult decision to abort the mission and return to Jerusalem.

However, despite the soldier’s fatigue it was decided to make a second attempt the next night... but from a different direction. The new plan called for the unit to travel by armored vehicle to the village of Hartuv, and from there attempt to climb approximately 25 km up to kibbutz Massuot Yitschak. Of the 40 original soldiers, two were sent back to Jerusalem because there weren’t enough weapons for them, and quickly another one had to turn back with two escorts because of a severely sprained ankle... leaving 35.

The march began near midnight, but by dawn they were only approaching Surif, the last Arab village on the way to Gush Etzion... less than 7 km from Massuot Yitzchak. At this point an Arab shepherd detected them and they came under fire.

They had no radio with which to call for help and it was nearly impossible to push on during daylight so Danny split his unit into two and began climbing what is today called Givat HaKrav (battle hill)... a very high position that was somewhat defensible.

Hundreds of Arabs from neighboring villages surrounded the hill and took up positions on neighboring ridges and laid siege to the small group. In a few short hours the supply of ammunition that the group had been carrying ran out and the last of the 35 was killed.

Because the final battle had taken place so far from any Jewish settlements, there was no way for anyone to know exactly what had become of the overdue unit. However, a day or two after the battle a British policeman interviewed a few wounded Arabs and was taken to the site of the battle. Though he didn’t immediately relate the full scope of what had happened to the Jewish leadership (out of fear of reprisals), after a short delay he did arrange for the bodies to be transported to Jerusalem for burial.

In the end, the Etzion Block fell and the last 240 men and women were executed by the Jordanians at Kfar Etzion. However Gush Etzion had done its job and had distracted enough of the Arab legion that Jewish Jerusalem was able to hold on until the end of the war.

David Ben Gurion said, "I can think of no battle in the annals of the Israel Defense Forces which was more magnificent, more tragic or more heroic than the struggle for Gush Etzion... If there exists a Jewish Jerusalem, our foremost thanks go to the defenders of Gush Etzion."

It wasn’t until after the Six Day War that this British policeman returned to Israel and agreed to show representatives of the army exactly where the battle of ‘The 35’ had taken place and to relate all he knew about the events of that day. It had always been assumed that the hill where the battle took place had been in Jordanian hands from 1948 until 1967. But using his notes from that period, the policeman was able to clearly identify a high hill that had been on the Israeli side of the border all along! He also was able to show exactly where all of the bodies had been found, and in what condition.

Today is the anniversary of this terrible battle. May the memory of ‘HaLamed Hey’ (The 35) be a blessing for my beautiful Gush Etzion, and for all Israel.

This coming Thursday night I hope to take part in the annual all night march along the route of ‘The 35’. There will be a break part way for a lecture /kumzitz, and the journey will culminate with morning services at the top of Givat HaKrav. If anyone would like information on joining this inspirational 25 km hike, you can call the Field School at (02) 993-5133.