Trip to the Galilee (8/17/10) Metsudat Koach

The Metzudat Koach Memorial (Hebrew: מצודת כ"ח‎, also Nabi Yusha fortress) commemorates 28 ( כ"ח) soldiers who died during the conquering of the strategically important fortress. The fortress and observation point is located in the Upper Galilee, close to the tomb of Nabi Yusha.[Wikipaedia].  Here is a picture of that Observation Post

as it was in 1948.  The surrounding are, preserved by the Kern Kayemet is completely green and beautifull.  Here is a picture of the introduction to the Memorial:

Below is the hebrew history of Metsudat Koach as recorded at the site.
By mid-April 1948, the British army had evacuated most of Upper Galilee. A number of key points were subsequently occupied by Arab forces, amongst which the police fortress at Nabi Yusha.

This fortress commanded the main road to Upper Galilee and the routes to the Jewish settlements of Ramot Naftali and Manara. The palmach understood that this observation point had a strategic importance for the safety and future of the kibbutzim below.

On April 15 in the evening hours, the police station was attacked by a company composed of Golani, Palmach and militia from nearby Jewish settlements, which moved in two armored cars and two armored Egged buses. Strong fire was opened on the attacking force which was compelled to withdraw. 4 Jews were killed in the battle.

On April 20, a second attempt was made to occupy the fortress by a force from the third Palmach battalion. A small force succeeded in breaking the barriers and reaching the fortress wall but two of its members were hit, which delayed the detonation of the explosives until their evacuation. During said evacuation, enemy fire was directed at them and many of the unit soldiers were killed. The troops fought to their last man. Altogether, 22 Jews were killed in the battle.

During the night of May 16-17, a company of the third battalion of the Yiftach Brigade occupied the fortress after driving away their enemy. On the next day, two of the conquerors were killed.

In the battles for the occupation of the fortress 28 Jewish soldiers fell and "Metzudat Hakoach" (Fortress of the 28 = כ"ח‎ or Koach) is named after them today.

The names of the 28 fallen soldiers are:
• Amnon Akerman • Yosef Ohali • Aryeh Barzilai • Eliezer Ben Nevet • Meir Ben Bassat • Zvi Horowitz • Nehemia Wissotzky • Yuval Tolitzinsky • Amnon Yekutieli • Yitczhak Yizraelowitz • Avraham Cohen • Hanan Kochba • Yisrael Levinsky • Malachi Moskowitz • Shlomo Mizrachi • Moshe Neeman • Moshe Stashi • Boaz Amikam • Yizhar Armoni • Filon Friedman • Eliezer Futerman • David Cherkasky • Mordechai Rauch • Eliezer Shevet • David Shwartz

The following are pictures of the Memorial, and some panoramic photos showing how Israel has changed since 1948. To the left a view from the side with 28 stone sides looking like tombstones, on top urns where memory candles can be lit (as we do when we visit cemeteries), and stones which visitors have placed to mark their visits to the sites.
In the original creation of the memorial neither stones, nor urns can be seen.

The back wall, seen larger below contains cuts that seem to be outlines of persons.  Almost as if the ghosts of the original defenders where still there overlooking the valley they fought so hard for.  Lastly a wide angle shot trying to give an idea of the platform, its background, and the place where ceremonies are held.

Leaving the memorial, there is a wooded area where an orthodox family had a picnic, and a lookout build by an American philantropist. The following pictures show the area, and the Hula Valley the Palmach fought so hard for.

The following 2 panoramas show the Hula Valley. The first is a straight picture from the observation point, the last a panorama composed from three pictures taken left to right, horizon to horizon and badly put together (sorry about the color tints!)

 

I really enjoyed the trip, and as soon as I learn how to use blogger, properly, will also enjoy blogging.

Trip to Russia: Arrival in Moscow

The first impression was of oppressive heat, insufficient air conditioning, and disrepair. Over half the escalators were being repaired. I did not notice it then, but thinking back on it, it was also the cleanest Airport I had ever been in. We walked the usual endless lines, and reached an area with bathrooms which caused the usual scatter of friends into male and female locations. When we gathered again we were told to fill out duty forms. I and some others grumbled why they were not available on the Plane, something we were used to in flights to and from Israel. In any case, there were round tables with slots for the papers we needed to fill out, no pencils, and no papers (except for a few that were gobbled up before I, Gaby, Ahuva or Pinchas could get to them). There was no one to help us so we went to the persons checking the papers and informed here of our situation. She pointed us back to the tables with the empty slots, and when informed of the empty slots just shrugged her shoulders. Not her problem! She checked the forms, but did not provide them.

At that point the tour guide who was traveling with us, said that upstairs, at the Polish checking there might be some of these papers. We trouped upstairs, and while there were not enough, there were enough to get started, and after questioning everyone in official looking clothes that passed by, we eventually found someone who knew where they were kept and provided enough for our bunch, but no more. I filled in my piece of paper, and then filled Gaby's, we were different since I was traveling with an American Passport, while Gaby was travelling with an Israeli passport. After we had finished filling out forms we stood in line. Ahuva cholse the "diplomatic line" and was ushered through it. I was chicken hearted but did the same. We all cleared this hurdle, found our bags and eventually exited the airport.

This is what the airport looks like from the outside. It is quite impressive, but not very large by American Standards (Dulles, Miami or Chicago look much bigger).

The Moscow Airport

 

When we got out, we smelled smoke. I did not pay much attention since I assumed it must be a local fire in the vicinity. The air seemed more or less clear, the skies were overcast, and our Bus arrived a few minutes after we got there.

Here are some pictures of Gaby, Ahuva and Pinhas in the parking lot.

Ahuva and Pinhas 

 

Ahuva - Gabi (in the background)