” No person can stand in the presence of Harugei Lod (who were killed defending the Jewish people) in Gan Eden” (Bava Batra 10b).
Archive of letters and writings by Ya’akov Arnon, a casualty of the War of Independence, who commanded the IDF forces that conquered hill 113 (today called Givat Arnon) near Kibbutz Negba. Arnon was killed during the capture of the hill. After the battle his will – his last letter to his parents – was found in his pocket, in case he did not return from the battle.
Items included in the archive:
* His startling letter/will (see at length below).
* The last letter sent to Arnon by his father, with the reason for its return stamped on it: ” Fell in Battle.”
* Official Israeli government obituary for the death of Ya’akov Arnon, written by a scribe and signed by Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion.
* Lengthy and detailed battle diary written by Ya’akov Arnon. 58 pages in his hand, with details of the events and battles he experienced, and another four pages added by his father, in which he writes about his son’s final days. Including a stencil version of the diary published posthumously.
* [11] letters his parents wrote to him 1943-1946.
* [4] letters he wrote to his sister 1944-1945.
* [9] letters he wrote to his friend Ya’akov in England 1945-1947.
* Typewritten eulogy from one of the members of his company, written in 1954.
* Driver’s license with his picture from 1947.
* [6] photographs from the inauguration of an orchard in his name, 1955.
* Letter received by his parents from the Defense Ministry, telling them about their receipt of a War of Independence medal for their son, 1951.
* [3] booklets published in the 1950s mentioning Ya’akov Arnon’s letter and his story.
Ya’akov Arnon [1928-1949] was born in Jerusalem and studied at the ‘Kadouri” agricultural school. He joined the Hagganah already at the age of 14, and enlisted in the Givati Brigade of the time. He served as a commander and was considered an experienced patrolman. He participated in activities around Jaffa, Holon and was involved in repelling the attack on the JNF building in Beit Dagan. He also took part in securing the road to the South and in the battles of Sha’ar HaGai, Latrun, Ashdod, and more. He would teach his soldiers Tana” ch between the battles. In preparation for Operation Yoav to break through the road to the Negev, he was appointed commander of a patrol squad scouting the Egyptian post on Hill 113, and accepted upon himself to lead the assault on the hill. The day before the battle, he wrote a letter to his parents, that he wanted them to receive in case he would fall in battle:
” Dear Mom and Dad, tonight I’m going out on a big operation aimed at distancing the Egyptian invaders from our State. The operation is very serious, because the enemy is equipped with the best weapons and has many, many troops. We must distance the enemy from the territory of our State, of which the Negev is one of its essential territories – an area for hundreds of thousands of our people to live in the near future. I’m going out this evening absolutely confident that we will return victorious. I am convinced that we will soon present our people with the complete Jewish State. At the same time, I know the the danger to individuals among us is huge. After all, who knows who will be chosen by fate as a sacrifice? Although it is clear to me that the personal danger to me is tremendous, I am going with full consciousness. It is totally prohibited for me to think of myself. I am thinking only of opening the road to the Negev, of liberating our country’s territory. I know your feelings at this time. You always sacrificed yourself for me. You spared no toil or concern. I was spoiled at home, quite spoiled. But you always educated me to sacrifice for Zionism and the Jewish people – and I am now going to actualize this goal. I’m convinced I will return to you unharmed, but if something happens, forgive me for going. No, don’t forgive me! On the contrary, be proud, it is for the sake of all of us. With hope and confidence we will return victorious, yours, with endless love, Ya’akov.” Arnon put the letter into an envelope, writing on it: ” Deliver only in case I don’t return from battle.”
There is a famous story told that someone said to Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach that he wants to travel to the North to pray at the graves of tzaddikim, and Rabbi Shlomo Zalman responded ” Why so far? Here in Jerusalem, on Mount Herzl, there are martyrs who gave their lives for the Jewish people and you can pray at their graves …”
Various sizes and conditions. Overall fine condition.