The opening of the Stanley Medicks Machal Room in the Lone Soldiers Center in Tel Aviv (in memory of Michael Levin) on Sunday, 4th May, 2014, was indeed a special occasion.
The wall panels which form part of the exhibit in this room comprise of the story of Aliyah Bet, through Israel’s War of Independence, onto the Sinai Campaign, the two Lebanon Wars and finish with today’s Machalniks. The photographs are interspersed with quotations by Rabin, Ben Gurion, Ezer Weizman, and Col. Miki Edelstein (Commander of the Nachal Brigade), as well as by Machalniks themselves – David (Mickey) Marcus, Dr. Leo Bornstein, Ira Feinberg, and Smoky Simon. The wall panels also show barcodes where Smartphone holders can access the full story, and also access websites and videos.
Three specific biographies are on the central pillar in the room – relating to Stanley Medicks, to Dr. Mary Gordon, and Smoky Simon (the three major donors to this project).
In addition there is a continuous 2 hour presentation on the television of photos of the 123 Fallen Machal, intermingled with photos from Aliyah Bet, all the forces in 1948-49, including the Sinai Campaign, up to current Machal and the Lone Soldiers Centre, including excerpts from the videos “Exodus”, “Waves of Freedom”, “Volunteers in 1948”, “Above and Beyond: The Birth of the Israel Air Force”, “804”, and the Bet Hatfutsot 7 minute clip which includes an interview with Stanley Medicks and excerpts from “804” and “My Brother’s Keeper”, the film produced by the Late Ira Feinberg (USA Machalnik).
This exhibit will be a permanent fixture at the Tel Aviv Centre and it is hoped to reproduce the current wall panels to be shown in the Jerusalem and Beersheva Centres also.
Elana Overs, daughter of the late Stanley Medicks, who was Chairman of the British, Scandinavian and European Machal and who passed away in June 2013, addressed the audience. She attended the opening with her husband John and daughter Natalie, and with Stanley’s long-term partner Marion Warner. A copy of Elana’s address is attached.
The opening was also attended by Lone Soldiers, by Machalniks and representatives of Telfed (the South African Zionist Federation) who initiated the project together with Machal.
Dave Bloom, Tziki Aud, and Dorron Kline at opening of Stanley Medicks Machal Room at Lone Soldiers Center in Tel Aviv on 4th May, 2014
Regretfully Smoky Simon, Chairman of World Machal was unable to attend the opening due to ill health, but his address read out at the opening is attached.
Myra Simon and Maurice Ostroff at opening of Stanley Medicks Machal Room at Lone Soldiers Center in Tel Aviv on 4.5.2014
All Machalniks and friends are welcome to visit this exhibit. Those who wish to view the exhibit should first contact Doreen of the World Machal office and a suitable time will be arranged.
Donations to this continuing project will be most welcome and should be sent to the World Machal Office, c/o H. Simon, El Al Building, 32 Ben Yehuda Street, Tel Aviv 6380501, Israel. All cheques should be made payable to “The Lone Soldiers Centre”.