Netiva Ben-Yehuda | |
---|---|
Born | Tel Aviv | 26 July 1928
Died | 28 February 2011 | (aged 82)
Nationality | Israeli |
Occupation(s) | Author, Editor, and former soldier of the Palmach |
Netiva Ben Yehuda ( Hebrew: נתיבה בן-יהודה; July 1928, Tel Aviv – 28 February 2011) was an Israeli author, editor and media personality. She was a commander in the pre-state Jewish underground Palmach.
Netiva ("Tiva") Ben-Yehuda was born in Tel Aviv, in Mandate Palestine, on 26 July 1928. Her father was Baruch Ben-Yehuda, director general of the first Israeli ministry of education. [1]
Ben-Yehuda joined the Palmach at the age of 18 and was trained in demolition, bomb disposal, topography, and scouting. [2] Her duties included transferring ammunition, escorting convoys, and training recruits.
The Palmach generally opposed women fighting at the front, however Ben-Yehuda was a commander and participated in several battles by performing sabotage operations. [3] On February 11, 1948, Ben-Yehuda and her comrades planted a mine for a busload of Arabs. This event and the ensuing death impacted Ben-Yehuda psychologically. [3]
Ben-Yehuda considered competing in discus throwing at the Olympics, but a bullet injury to her arm kept her from pursuing an athletic career. [1] She studied at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem and Jewish philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Ben Yehuda worked as a freelance editor, and in 1972 published The World Dictionary of Hebrew Slang. Between 1981 and 1991, she published her Palmah trilogy, a series of three novels based on her own experience in the War of Independence (see "Published works"). [4] She wrote over 30 books, including a Hebrew slang dictionary, coauthored with Dahn Ben-Amotz.
She was the host of a late-night Israel Radio show for 14 years where she played old-time Israeli songs and spoke with callers. [5] She was a resident of Palmach Street in the capital, and the local cafe she patronized on that street became known as "Cafe Netiva." [5]
Ben Yehuda died on 28 February 2011 at the age of 82.
In 2004, Ben Yehuda received the Yakir Yerushalayim (Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem) award from the city of Jerusalem. [6]
On the subject of the Palmach: "I don't think that there has ever been any other underground movement in the world in which 'male chauvinism' triumphed so powerfully and so proudly". [7]