WORLD MACHAL - Volunteers from overseas in the Israel Defense Forces

Personal Stories

There are over 400 personal stories on this website. Please use the SEARCH bars in order to find names of interest to you. If you are are aware of missing names or you have stories to contribute please use the CONTACT menu at the top or the FORM at the bottom of each page.

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Cecil Margo

Cecil Margo while serving in the Libyan Desert in 1943   Cecil Margo was born in Johannesburg in South Africa in 1915. During

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Miriam Hessel

Miriam Hessel travelled to Palestine from the U.S.A. early in 1948 to study at the Hebrew University. When Israel declared its independence, she

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Stanley Summers

Following is a rough diary of my trip to Israel. The months are correct, but I cannot be sure of the exact dates

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Dov (Bernard) Mills

Dov Mills was laid to rest in October 2004 in Beersheba’s cemetery about mid-way between Kibbutz Hatzerim and the “Old City.” His grave

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Meir (Matey) Silber

Meir Silber, the son of Devorah-Esther and Abraham, was born in Libova, Latvia, on 18th August 1927. When still an infant, his parents

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Lola Sprinzeles

Lola was born in Germany and was one of the 10,000 children who found refuge in England, arriving alone through the “kindertransport”. She

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Marvin Libow

I.D.F. NO: 58413 Marvin Libow was born in Los Angeles on July 24th, 1928 and passed away on June 30th, 2010. His father

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Ben Dunkelman

Ben Dunkelman was born into a well-established Jewish family in Toronto, and grew up with all the advantages and luxuries. He was a

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Leo Gardner

About 1949: Left to right – unidentified, Leo Gardner, Mrs. Taiber, Rami Taiber, Al Schwimmer Leo Gardner was born in the U.S.A. In

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Saul Yellin

Saul Yellin (left) – Cyprus internment Saul Yellin was born in Baltimore, Maryland. on June 18th, 1924. After serving for four years in

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Wayne Peake

Wayne Peake was an experienced United States Air Force fighter pilot who had flown many combat missions over Germany during World War II.

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Ray Brunton

I arrived at Palmietfontein with my luggage, was given a paper and told that my destination was Nicosia. Eventually we got onto a

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Jack Kesselman

Part I: Writing in My Father’s Footsteps History By Jonathan Kesselman   This is a story of loyalty and betrayal. It’s a story

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Dr. Stanley Levin

Dr. Stanley Levin, part of a group of nine which included Dov and Elsie Judah, Reuben and Bat-Ami Joffe, Colin and Saada. Gluckman

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Basil Levin

Basil Levin (with pipe), father Sam in the centre, and Dr. Stanley Levin (on the right) Basil Levin, a sapper with the British

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