Exhibition: Israel’s Defining Moments

Exhibition: Israel’s Defining Moments

Israel’s Defining Moments Exhibit – An Interactive Re-creations exhibit.

To mark the 70th year of Israel’s independence, the Jewish community of Greater Chattanooga put together a special exhibit – Recreations of Israel’s Defining Moments. Individuals and organizations in the community were asked to choose one of 14 photos to recreate – and the outcome was beautiful. Visitors of the exhibit voted for their favorite re-creation. The winning re-creation was “Paratroopers at the Western Wall” by Ardise Katz. Ardise got the opportunity to choose a NGO in Israel which will receive a donation in her name.

The winning re-creation: “Paratroopers at the Western Wall” by Ardise Katz

   

(June 7, 1967, David Rubinger)

The Battle of Jerusalem happened in the first 72 hours of the Six-Day War in 1967. At 10 am on June 7th, two Israeli brigades entered the old city and captured all of it, including the Western wall, In this iconic photo three Israeli paratroopers are framed against the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem, shortly after its recapture by. This photo is often called “The Paratroopers Cry”.

“The Ink Flag ” by Mizpah congregation Hebrew School

    

(March 10th, 1949, Micha Perry)

The Ink Flag was a handmade Israeli flag raised during the Independence War to mark the capture of Eilat. The city was captured without a battle as part of “Operation Uvda” and was the last maneuver of the war. When Nahum Sarig, the Negev Brigade commander ordered his soldiers to make an improvised flag when he found out that the brigade did not have an Israeli flag on hand. A makeshift flag created from a white sheet inscribed with ink was raised by Avraham Adan, company commander of the 8th Battalion of the Negev Brigade.

Soldiers Pray and Blowing the Shofar after the Liberation of the Kotelby Chabad of Chattanooga Hebrew School

(1967, David Rubringer, from FFOZ Archives)

Rabbi and General Shlomo Goren arriving at the Western Wall after the Liberation on The Kotel. He is holding a Torah scroll and blowing a shofar at the Western Wall surrounded by young soldiers. The stories tell that a day after this picture was taken, Rabbi Shlomo Goren Single-Handedly Captured the Cave of the Patriarchs. He fell asleep and the troops left Jerusalem without him so he drove to Hebron by his own not knowing that they didn’t get there yet. He shot and broke the Cave’s door and prayed there. When a messenger of the Mufti of Hebron came in and asked him to surrender he said: “This place, the Machpelah Cave, is a place of prayer and peace. Surrender elsewhere.”

“Leonard Cohen Performing for IDF soldiers during Yom Kippur War” by Aleph Bet Children’s’ Center teachers

(1973, JTA)

Leonard Cohen, Jewish Canadian artist, is known for his song “Hallelujah”. Cohen traveled to Israel during the Yom Kippur War for two month to perform for the Israeli soldiers in Sinai. He was performing at gathering points and bases, along with the composer Matti Caspi and Israeli musician, Pupik Arnon. In this iconic photo, Cohen is singing to the soldiers standing next to Ariel Sharon, the Israeli general and future prime minister.

Israel – Egypt Peace Treaty by Tuesday Cafe Members: John Lewis z”l, Reuben Dubrow & Roy Rosenfeld

(March 23, 1979, AP)

Israel – Egypt Peace Treaty was signed in Washington, D.C. on March 26, 1979, following the 1978 Camp David Accords. The historical peace process between Israel and Egypt started on November 1997, with Anwar El Sadat’s speech in the Israeli Knesset and led to the camp David Accords between the two countries. The process was completed in 1982 with the completion of the evacuation of the Sinai Peninsula and its transfer to Egypt.

Cigarette between leaders after the Peace Treaty with Jordan”  by Tal Cohen

(26 October 1994, Saar Yaakov)

The Israel–Jordan Peace Treaty was signed in 1994 at the southern border crossing between the countries – the Arabah border – by israeli Prime Minister at the time, Yitzhak Rabin and King of Jordan, Hussein. Following the agreements, Israel and Jordan opened their borders and since those days, the Israel–Jordan Peace Treaty is the most stable in the area.

Dana Intentional Performing the Song “Diva” by Aleph Bet Kids

(May 9th. 1998, Reuters)

Sharon Cohen professionally known as Dana International is Israel’s first transgender pop singer. In 1998, Dana was chosen to represent Israel in Euro-vision,  the longest-running annual international TV song competition. She took the first place with her song Diva and went fast into the mainstream in Israel and Europe.

“Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade” by Evie Reardon

(July 21, 2016, Michal fatel)

The Jerusalem gay pride parade is also called March for Pride and Tolerance has happening in Jerusalem since 2002, and it has always been in a duspute, due to the religious character of the city. Twice, in 2005 and 2015, it was even marred by violence as an ultra-Orthodox Jew (same one twice) stabbed marchers with a knife, one time causing six injuries and the second time killing a 16 years old girl, Shira Banky. In 2016, the parade was dedicated to Shira Banky and happened under the headline: “We are here to stay”.

Major Tomer Buhadana’s Victory, Second Lebanon War  by B’nai Zion congregation Hebrew School

(August 10th, 2006, AFP)

Four days before the Second Lebanon War ended, Major Tomer Buhadana and his troops went to the Lebanese village Markaba. They were asked to clear the houses in the village of terrorists and weapons. Buhadana decided to storm into one of the houses and he was shot. While losing a lot of blood, he continued to head the force, until he was evacuated by a helicopter. When he got off the helicopter, severely wounded, he held a V sign to the media and soon this photo became one of the war symbols.

Thank you to all who participated and voted!