Jason Fenton (at age 16)
Jason Fenton was born in London, UK, in 1932, the son of a Rabbi.
Following in the footsteps of his older brother Ivor Fenton, at the age of 16, Jason clandestinely left England for Israel and there fought with the 4th Anti-Tank Unit, composed of volunteers from the English-speaking countries. He was the youngest Machal volunteer who served in the War of Independence.
In 1956, he emigrated from the UK to the United States, earned a Ph.D. degree at UCLA and then pursued a lengthy career as a professor of English and of Jewish history at community colleges and state universities, primarily in Orange County, south of Los Angeles.
Fenton was an indefatigable champion of the Jewish people and Israel during more than 50 years in Southern California, and the last four years of his life in Minneapolis. A talented writer and public speaker, Fenton regularly addressed audiences in synagogues, churches, public forums and classrooms.
In addition to his many speaking engagements, he authored “Strength and Courage: The Untold Story of the MACHAL Volunteers Who Helped Win Israel’s War of Independence”. He frequently participated in TV interviews and appeared in two documentaries..
Jason Fenton passed away on 21st January 2017.
Source: Fenton’s daughter Tamar