The Hidden Heroes of Bat Yam: Miraculous Tales of Survival

In our nation, one event leads to another, operation follows operation, and sadly, between wars, there is yet another war. So many miracles and acts of kindness from Hashem, it’s hard to remember them all. These days, despite the challenges, we don’t feel existence-threatening danger for the entire population. But not long ago, there was a fight for the very right to exist. During the War of Independence, a handful of young people, who a month before weren't even soldiers because there wasn’t a formal army, battled against a multitude of local Arab villagers.

There were heroic parts of the war everyone remembers: the siege of Jerusalem, the battle for Latrun, Operation Ovda, the capture of Eilat, and more. But Bat Yam? Who even knows what happened there? Just another neighborhood between Tel Aviv and Holon...

Well, it turns out there were also Jews there fighting for their lives, experiencing inexplicable miracles from Hashem that ensured their survival. It’s likely that most people living in Bat Yam, even if they've heard about the heroic battles in Safed or Jerusalem, have never heard about what unfolded among the streets where now stand neglected 1950s era apartment blocks...

At the time, the area was called 'Beit V'Gan', a lonely neighborhood south of Jaffa. The city of Holon, of course, didn’t exist; to the west was the sea, and to the east and south, miles of sand dunes. Northern Tel Aviv was then a small settlement. Yet even then, land was becoming expensive—plots in Beit V'Gan cost 17 Egyptian pounds per dunam. It was manageable, and settlers gained the chance to populate another area in Israel.

The first settlers tried to negotiate with the head of the electric company, Mr. Shapira, for power supply, but he declined, stating it was unreasonable to create infrastructure for just a few houses in the wilderness. And how did one reach Bat Yam? Was there a road? No. They walked from Jaffa's edge, through the neighborhood of 'Jebaliya' (an Arab hostile neighborhood, thankfully erased in the War of Independence, known today as 'Givat Ha'Aliya'), barefoot through the sand until they saw the first houses of 'Beit V'Gan'. Later, 'Mikveh Israel' was established to the south, known today as Holon.

At the outbreak of the War of Independence, several youths were dispatched to string a telephone line between Beit V'Gan and Mikveh Israel to coordinate defense against Arab attackers. Defense positions were erected where today Rothschild Street stands, as well as at Rambam corner Balfour. Arabs from Jebaliya began targeting the small neighborhood, and anyone who poked their head beyond positions or concrete walls risked sniper fire. Leaving the neighborhood towards Tel Aviv or any other direction was impossible. Jebaliya is a high hill, and Arabs manned it ready with sniper rifles. The neighborhood was surrounded and besieged by barbarians eager to slaughter. Grenades, gunfire, and the defenders' ammo in Beit V'Gan was depleting...

One of the defense posts (on King George Street), nothing more than a reinforced concrete wall, was blown up by a heavy Arab artillery. The defenders retreated to other positions. The neighborhood's residents thought about fleeing, but escape was impossible—just sea and dunes, and snipers... 17 people were killed by sniper bullets. Arabs tried infiltrating the settlement; they were spotted and shot, but how much could a small neighborhood hold out against a sea of hostile forces?

Then, the first miracle occurred: a few youths, gaining inexplicable strength, slipped through Arab patrols under the cover of night. They circled the large house atop Jebaliya hill, rigged it with explosives, and fled towards Beit V'Gan. During their escape, they were spotted, and crossfire ensued. Out of ammo and grenades, they were forced to 'fire' back by throwing stones. They knew the building would explode in moments and the attackers would panic. Indeed, as they reached Beit V'Gan's boundary, a huge blast resonated, and the center of the Arab attack, including snipers and equipment, ascended in a fiery plume. The attackers retreated in a panic to count their dead.

Simultaneously, Jaffa's Arab mayor fled to Jordan. Jaffa's Arabs, though superior and larger in number, panicked inexplicably due to Hashem’s intervention, and began to flee. Jebaliya’s Arabs caught the panic fever and lost the ability to wield their superior weapons, supplied by the British... The thin and few defenders of Bat Yam entered Jebaliya and cleared it. Those who didn't flee to Jordan were shot or expelled. Most buildings were razed, and in place of the murderers' nest, the neighborhood 'Givat Ha'Aliya' was established. Today, traveling north from Jaffa along Givat Ha'Aliya to Rothschild Street in Bat Yam, one sees only residential buildings, playgrounds, and even a new mall. Despite everything we've gone through since, we must thank Hashem for His kindness and miracles that occurred with us throughout this land.