"We Suffered Gunfire, Two of My Friends Were Killed": Dr. Simcha Mendelbaum's Haunting Memories

Dr. Simcha Mendelbaum, 89 years old, was born in Jerusalem, a descendant of long-established and extensive families in Israel. He spent his childhood in the Mandelbaum House, built by his grandfather, which became known for the famous Mandelbaum Gate, once the border crossing between Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan. At the age of 19, Simcha fought in the 'Hagana' forces, participating in the liberation of Jerusalem during the War of Independence. He later studied in the USA at Yeshiva University and Harvard University, and for 65 years worked as a lawyer in Jerusalem. Currently, Simcha engages in research on the construction of Jerusalem and Israel and has published six books on the subject. Until recently, his office remained active, but he has now moved to working from home, writing books and giving lectures on Jerusalem and more.

Childhood Memory

"I grew up in the Mandelbaum House in Jerusalem, a large building with 20 apartments, alongside my extended family. Among them are now well-known figures, like the author Simcha Raz and Rabbi Simcha HaCohen Kook, who, like me, were named after our grandfather. My grandfather was unique for choosing not to rely on the 'fund' — charity funds sent to Jerusalem residents. Instead, he established a large, renowned clothing store to make a living. Even earlier, when my grandmother, who came from a town near Lodz, was told she would marry a Jerusalem native, she purchased about 40 knitting machines and brought them with her to Israel. At that time, women did not work outside their homes, and my grandmother distributed the machines to them, allowing them to knit socks at home during the week. At the end of each week, these women would bring the socks to her and receive payment. The socks were made in two pieces: the upper part lasted a lifetime, while the lower part was replaced periodically. The clothing store my grandparents owned was also a destination for couples to purchase lifetime clothing. My grandmother would offer flexible payment terms extending over several years, allowing them to balance purchasing clothing with sustaining their livelihoods. Many visited this well-regarded store, which employed about 15 women from Jerusalem, contributing to both the city's economy and development."

"On my mother's side, I am the great-grandson of R' Yoel Moshe Salomon, a founder of Petach Tikvah and the 'Nachalat Shiva' neighborhood — the first Jewish neighborhood outside Jerusalem's walls. Many years earlier, the family patriarch, Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Zalman Zoref-Salomon (the Rashaz), who was one of the Vilna Gaon's students, became the first Ashkenazi Jew to settle in Jerusalem in 1811."

A Significant Event That Left a Mark

"At age 18, during the War of Independence, I participated in the battle for the Bevingrad Fortress as part of the liberation of Jerusalem. This fortress was one of the 'security zones' established by the British to control the city better. The location included the Russian Compound and parts of Jaffa Street, entirely surrounded by concrete walls and barbed wire. On the 4th of Iyar 5708, the day the British were set to leave the country, we knew we had to capture the fortress before the Arabs took control. From morning, we awaited the moment, and when the British opened the gates and left the fortress, we cut through the wire fences and broke inside. We seized the Generali Building and the main post office, and while passing along Mamilla Street, we encountered advancing Arabs and managed to fend them off. We spent four days at the fortress, finding much British military equipment. Among our tasks was assisting David Libowitz in assembling the Hagana's secret weapon — the 'Davidka.' Once ready, David fired the first shell, which did not explode. The second shell did, and its boom was clearly heard. This shell landed near the Arab market by Damascus Gate, causing the Arabs to believe an 'atom bomb' was used against them, leading to panic and fleeing from the area."

"We then moved to capture city hall buildings and the bank building behind them, where we encountered enemy resistance for the first time, including gunfire and grenade attacks. A machine gun operated by one of our men helped us overcome these challenges and occupy these buildings. Later, we reached the Notre Dame Monastery, under ruthless sniper fire from the Arabs. To avoid their shots, we had to crawl beneath the many windows of the monastery, lacking sandbags to seal them. At one point, we saw through the windows armored cars of the Arab Legion approaching, putting us in a dire situation. Our commander, Eliezer Feldman, ordered the detonation of the building section facing the road to prevent the armored vehicles from entering the city, and some of our sappers started working on the explosives. By the grace of Hashem, the thick wall was successfully blown, hitting the first armored vehicle, and those following began to retreat. On the 11th of Iyar 5708, a week after breaking into the fortress, a Jordanian armored car surprised us by advancing, firing a shell that hit the position my friends and I were in. Two of my friends were killed on the spot, and I was lightly wounded, later evacuated to a hospital for hours of treatment. The fight for Jerusalem's liberation was decided with just a step between the Jordanian forces and us. At the last Independence Day, a memorial ceremony was held for the fortress's capture, and I, as the only surviving fighter from those times, received an award for our steadfastness at the site."

A Person Who Made a Lasting Impression on Me

"Rabbi Aryeh Levin. My law office was located on Chavazelet Street in Jerusalem, near the Russian Compound. Every day or two, when Rabbi Aryeh visited inmates at the prison, he would stop by my office, share his plans for the day, and consult with me on how to assist various inmates best. After his passing, I collected all the stories about him and shared them with my cousin, author Simcha Raz, who wrote the book 'A Tzaddik Was Here' about him. Since its publication, the book has gone through 30 editions, selling hundreds of thousands of copies. This year, on the 9th of Nisan, it marked 50 years since Rabbi Aryeh's passing, and I had the privilege of sharing my memories of him at the senior home where I reside."

What Changed for Me After Age 70:

"When I turned 70, some suggested I should retire, but I decided to keep working, not for the money but to help people. Just months ago, I closed my office and moved to a senior living facility. Since then, I've set up an office at home to continue creating and writing. Each morning, after *netz* prayer at the local Gur community synagogue, I begin my workday as a lecturer and writer until evening."

What Changed in My Environment After Age 70:

"Today, the Jerusalem I grew up in barely exists. This city has beautifully developed, and I am very glad for it."

From My Life Experience, the Most Important Thing is…

"Family. I have two daughters, one a psychologist, the other a social worker, and a son who is a yeshiva supervisor. This is my pride, seeing them all grow and build their own families. Besides, I continue to write about Jerusalem, having a library full of books on the city. I strive to do meaningful things in my life and not waste them aimlessly."

Something I Wish to Pass On to Future Generations

"The Torah and the land of Israel are the basis of our entire lives. It is important even for those who don't observe the commandments to know this, and I hope all my descendants continue in this way and ensure their children follow it."

Do you also have grandparents willing to share their experiences and insights from their world? We would love you to write to us, and we will get back to you: support@htv.co.il