Skip to Main Content
PLANT TREES IN ISRAEL
Jewish National Fund logo
  • Plant Trees
  • JNF In Your Area
  • Visit Israel
  • Shop
  • DONATE
X
Jewish National Fund logo
  • Our Vision
  • Our Work
  • Ways To Help
    • Ways To Give

      • Plant a Tree
      • Directed Giving
      • Planned Giving
      • Be Inscribed
      • Plant Your Way to Israel
      • EZ Tree®
      • JNF Store
      • Create or Find a Tribute
      • Create or Find a Memorial
      • Personal Fundraising
      • Open a Donor Advised Fund
      • Donate Cryptocurrency

      Get Involved

      • JNFuture
      • Women For Israel
      • Finance for Israel
      • Healthcare For Israel
      • Lawyers for Israel
      • Real Estate Division
      • Rabbis for Israel
      • Donor Societies
      • Join a Task Force

      Resources

      • JNF Boruchin Center
      • Shiva Resources
      • ZTV Zionism Studios
      • Speakers Bureau
      • Jewish Future Promise
  • News & Media
 

Stay on top of the latest Jewish National Fund news

New code

By providing a telephone number and submitting this form, you are consenting to be contacted by SMS/MMS text message (our message frequency may vary). Message & data rates may apply. Reply Stop2End. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Impact Blog

Profile of a Heroine: Mira Ben Ari

| Debbie Paneth
Profile of a Heroine: Mira Ben Ari

"The Egyptians are in the kibbutz. I am destroying the machine and the code, and am going off to fight.”                               -- Mira Ben Ari, 1948

Mira Ben Ari (nee Glashaib) was born in 1926 in Berlin, Germany. Her parents, Rivka and Israel, brought their Zionist family to the Land of Israel in 1933.

The British were in control of pre-state Israel and Mira was just 14 years old when she volunteered for the Lehi underground organization. Her pioneering spirit took her south, and together with a group of friends, they established Kibbutz Nitzanim; between two Arab villages, Isdud and Majdal (which are Ashdod and Ashkelon today). There, she met and married Elyakim and had a son, Daniel.

War broke out after Ben Gurion announced the establishment of the State of Israel. At the time, Elyakim was out of the kibbutz and couldn’t return home. Then on May 17, 1948, the kibbutz evacuated the children and people who were not essential. Mira, a wireless operator, knew the importance of her job and would not abandon her post. She sent away two-year-old Daniel with a letter for Elyakim stuffed in his pocket.

"I'll just write a few words, and you'll probably understand that I cannot write. It's just a little hard. More than a little. I've never felt this way before, but I'll get over it. In our time, everything has to be overcome. Perhaps for the ability of our people to endure and not give up, because of its stubbornness to endure despite the fact that we are few, yet we will achieve all that we deserve after two thousand years. There is no harder separation from that of a mother from a child, but I part with my child for the sake of him growing up in a safe place, and for the sake of being a free person in this country. Give him all my love when you see him. Give my father and mother a lot of kisses and apologize in my name."

This courageous 22-year-old young woman, together with nine other women, refused to leave their home at Kibbutz Nitzanim during the 1948 War of Independence, despite being surrounded by the Egyptians.

Mira was not able to get help via radio communication on June 7, 1948. Airplanes, tanks and Egyptian soldiers fired at the kibbutz.

When an Egyptian officer killed two of her fellow heroes, one of whom was Avraham Schwartzstein, force commander of Nitzanim who came out waving a white shirt, Mira didn't think twice. She shot the officer, and then was shot dead.

Although Mira, the communications officer, and many others lost their lives in the battle, their courage and commitment is remembered to this day.

The Nitzanim Women of Valor Center, located just south of Ashdod, pays homage to these brave women, as well as other Israeli female soldiers.

***To double your impact for the land and people in honor of Jewish National Fund-USA's Women's Month, visit jnf.org/womensmonth

READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF B’YACHAD ONLINE EXACTLY AS IT APPEARS IN PRINT

Experience B’Yachad cover to cover with every beautiful photo and original piece of art, from the convenience of your computer screen. READ NOW >

READ NOW magazine image
< Return to blog home
Phone:800.JNF.0099
Email:[email protected]

About JNF

Planned Giving

JNF Boruchin Center

Impact Blog

IsraelCast – JNF Podcast

JNF Videos

Leadership

News & Media

Employment Opportunities

Accessibility

Privacy Policy

Contact Us

FAQs

Terms & Conditions

National Office
42 East 69th Street
New York, NY 10021 USA
(212)879-9300

Israel Office
Jewish National Fund-USA
C/O WeWork
King George 20
Jerusalem, Israel
972-2-563-5638

Find Local Office
Jewish National Fund is listed by the IRS as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit with a Federal Tax ID of 13-1659627. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Copyright © 2021 by Jewish National Fund
Logo white image
AMHSI Logo image
Charity navigator logo image
BBB logo image