Netiva Ben Yehuda (Hebrew: ????? ??-??????; July 1928, Tel Aviv - 28 February 2011) was an Israeli author, editor and media personality. She was a commander in the pre-state Jewish underground, Palmach.
Video Netiva Ben-Yehuda
Early life
Netiva ("Tiva") Ben-Yehuda was born in Tel Aviv, in Mandate Palestine, on 26 July 1928. Her father was Baruch Ben-Yehuda, director general of the first Israeli ministry of education.
Maps Netiva Ben-Yehuda
Wartime experience
Ben-Yehuda joined the Palmach at the age of 18 and was trained in demolition, bomb disposal, topography, and scouting. Her duties included transferring ammunition, escorting convoys, and traihning recruits.
The Palmach generally opposed women fighting at the front, however Ben-Yehuda was a commander and participated in several battles by performing sabotage operations. On February 11, 1948, Ben-Yehuda and her comrades planted a mine for a busload of Arabs. This event and the ensuing death impacted Ben-Yehuda psychologically.
Later life
Ben-Yehuda considered competing in discus throwing at the Olympics, but a bullet injury to her arm kept her from pursuing an athletic career. She studied at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem and Jewish philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Literary and media career
Ben Yehuda was a freelance editor, and in 1972 published The World Dictionary of Hebrew Slang. Between 1981 and 1991 she published her Palmah trilogy, a series of three novels based on her own experience in the War of Independence (see "Published works"). She was a resident of Palmach Street in the capital, and the local cafe she patronized on that street became known as "Cafe Netiva."
Ben Yehuda wrote over 30 books, including a Hebrew slang dictionary, coauthored with Dahn Ben-Amotz. Ben-Yehuda was the host of a late-night Israel Radio show for 14 years. She played old-time Israeli songs and talked with callers.
Legacy
In 2004, Ben Yehuda received the Yakir Yerushalayim (Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem) award from the city of Jerusalem.
Ben Yehuda died on 28 February 2011 at the age of 82.
Quotes
On the subject of the Palmach: "I don't think that there has ever been any other underground movement in the world in which 'male chauvinism' triumphed so powerfully and so proudly".
Published works
- The World Dictionary of Hebrew Slang (with Dahn Ben Amotz), Zmora Bitan, 1972 [Ha-Milon Le-Ivrit Meduberet]
- 1948 - Between Calendars (novel), Keter, 1981 [Ben Ha-Sefirot], part of the Palmach trilogy
- The World Dictionary of Hebrew Slang, Part 2 (with Dahn Ben Amotz), Zmora Bitan, 1982 [Ha-Milon Le-Ivrit Meduberet II]
- Blessings and Curses (writings), Keter, 1984 [Brachot U-Klalot]
- Through the Binding Ropes (novel), Domino, 1985 [Mi-Bead L'Avotot], part of the Palmach trilogy
- Jerusalem from the Inside (novel), Edanim, 1988 [Yerushalayim Mi-Bifnocho]
- Autobiography in Poem and Song (folk songs), Keter, 1991 [Otobiografia Be-Shir U-Zemer]
- When the State of Israel Broke Out (novel), Keter, 1991 [Ke-She Partzah Ha-Medinah], part of the Palmach trilogy
References
External links
- Jewish Virtual Library
External links
- Personal website (Hebrew)
- "Front line combat" audio essay by Ben-Yehuda at BBC online
- "Netiva Ben Yehuda" article in the Jewish Women's Encyclopedia by Yael Feldman
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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