“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”
– spoken by “Gavin”, in from “Requiem for a Nun”, by William Faulkner
If you spend enough time focused upon the past, whether as one man or many – contemplating the past; reconstructing the past; interpreting the past – eventually, whether through an accidental epiphany, the currents of fate (is there really such a thing as fate?), or the natural and inexorable flow of time, you will eventually be drawn forward – irresistibly – to the reality of the present.
If you only spend time in the present, whether as an individual or a nation – living in the “here and now” in the manner of all mankind; immersed in the fashion of the day; oblivious of those who came before you and how and why they came before you; willfully blind to those who threaten your own people, or, civilization as a whole (whether they’re narcissistically obsessed with messianically “transforming” the world, or, have dessicated souls that can only be enlivened through chaos, destruction, and the negation of the good) you may find yourself, aghast and in horror, pulled backwards to a world – long the tragic norm for most of humanity – that only recently had become obscured from the memory of man.
Yet, between past and present, in the lives of all peoples there occur moments when the strands of time intersect – at first randomly, and on reflection perhaps purposefully – weaving themselves into a tapestry of memory that hints at an altogether greater reality.
Such an event seems to occurred early during Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas, three months after the terror organization’s razzia of October 7, 2023 (23rd of Tishrei, 5784) in southern Israel. (What’s a razzia? Baruch Hasofer offers us a description: “This is a slave raid into enemy territory, involving massacre, despoliation and the taking of captives. Razzias, or ghazawat, were employed everywhere Muslims encountered non-Muslims whom they were not capable of conquering immediately-Spain, the Balkans, Anatolia, the Ukraine, Russia, Central Asia. The immediate aim was the weakening of the enemy and the enrichment of the participants via slavetrading. The longterm aim was the extortion of tribute.”)
In early January, in the midst of Israel’s military operations and presented in news and social media, images and videos appeared of soldiers of the 74th Armored Battalion of Israel’s 188th Armored Brigade, paying their respects at the grave of a British Jewish soldier of the First World War, a certain “Private I. Goldreich”. (Actually, “Goldrich”, as we shall see below.) This occurred at the Commonwealth War Grave Commission’s Deir El Belah War Cemetery in central Gaza. Images from this event comprise close-ups of two matzevot, and, photos of three soldiers (one of whom is a seren, or captain) at Goldrich’s matzeva, behind which they hold an Israeli-flag, and before which the captain recites Kaddish.
Here’s the insignia of the 188th Armored Brigade…
… and that of the 74th Armored Battalion.
This is the story as reported at YNetnews by Yoav Zitun on January 31, under the title “Piece of paradise in the rubble’: Soldiers find Jewish tombs in Gaza“:
IDF soldiers on Wednesday found a well-preserved cemetery near the town of Al-Mawasi in Gaza in which dozens of graves belonging to World War I veterans were located. Patrolling the area, some of the troops noticed several of the graves were decorated with a Star of David, marking the resting spot of Jewish soldiers who fought in the British Army over a century ago.
Photos uploaded by the soldiers to the X (formerly Twitter) social media platform, featuring the Israeli flag next to the graves, went viral, with one of the posts even receiving over 3.5 million views. Some claimed that this was evidence that Hamas also preserves Jewish graves, but an inquiry into the matter by the soldiers has disproved the claims.
“This facility is maintained by the UK via local authorities in the Gaza Strip,” Lt. Col. Oren, the commander of the 74th Battalion, told Ynet. “It’s a really special place, finding a spot that seems like a piece of paradise, with it being green and untouched amid the rubble. It suffered some damage in the battles, but it can be restored. We noticed the Star of David seen on the graves with names like Goldreich. After a few days, we returned to the site and prayed in front of the graves after many years,” he recounted.
Lt. Col. Oren added the location was never settled by Israel in the past. According to him, the British developed the site and even renovated some of the graves. “We found about seven Jewish out of hundreds. We photographed the names and the brief descriptions of the battle in which they fell. It was an emotional moment.
“I told myself this wasn’t only our battle. We’re fighting here because they did the same over a century ago,” he said. Lt. Col. Oren described how his forces engaged in battles against Hamas terrorists who fired RPG missiles at them only 100 meters away from the location of the cemetery.
“We located a Hamas factory for manufacturing weapons and ammunition next to the cemetery. We didn’t [know] whether terror tunnels were beneath the cemetery because we didn’t want to violate its sanctity. We found Hamas-built tunnels below other cemeteries. We were amazed to find such a sacred place in this cursed area.”
Here’s the story as reported by Felix Pope at the The Jewish Chronicle on February 1, under the title “IDF soldiers shocked to find Jewish graves in Gaza“.
While fighting their way through Gaza, Israeli soldiers have stumbled across several well preserved Jewish graves.
Near the town of Al-Maazi, in the centre of the Palestinian enclave, the IDF troops discovered a British World War One cemetery.
Some of the tombstones within it were engraved with Stars of David.
Speaking to Israeli media, Lt. Col. Oren said: “It was damaged a bit in the battles, but it can be restored.
“We noticed the stars of David on the tombstones and names like Goldreich. We returned after a few days to the place and said Kaddish on the graves after many years.
“We also found there, next to the cemetery, a cache for the production of many weapons. We did not check if there was an underground tunnel under the cemetery because we did not want to harm its sanctity.
“In other cemeteries, we located combat tunnels that Hamas had built underneath. We were amazed that we found such a pure place in this cursed area.”
Schindler added: “It was an exciting moment. I told myself it wasn’t just our fight — our war is here, because they also fought here at the beginning of the last century.”
In November, IDF soldiers prayed at a sixth-century synagogue in Gaza, marking the first time Jews had worshipped there for decades.
Located in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, it was built in 508 CE during the Byzantine period.
The site featured a famous mosaic featuring King David with a lyre and his name inscribed in Hebrew that was transferred to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem after Israel captured the Gaza Strip during the 1967 Six-Day War.
And now, the photos.
First, here are images of 74th Armored Battalion soldiers at the cemetery, accompanied by captions from at YNet. (Alas, there’s not much to the captions. They’re presented here “as is”, the source for all three simply having been attributed to “Courtesy”. (Whoever that is!)
Ynet: #1: “Soldiers next to a Jewish tomb located in Gaza”
And now, two videos.
First, on January 14, Israel’s Channel 14 made available a video captioned “בלב עזה כוחותינו אומרים קדיש ומניחים דגלי ישראל על קברי חיילים יהודים שנפלו במלחמת העולם הראשונה”, which translates as “In the heart of Gaza, our forces say Kaddish and place Israeli flags on the graves of Jewish soldiers who fell in the First World War”.
The same video – the captain reciting Kaddish, sans any introduction – can be found in at least two Facebook pages, onto both of which it was loaded on January 12, 2014.
First, the Facebook page of Mitzpe Kramim (מצפה כרמים), where the video is accompanied by the caption “גלעד היקר- אחד מנציגי מצפה כרמים בחזית, שלח לנו ד ש חמה ומרגשת מקברי יהודים בבית העלמין הבריטי בעזה. שבת שלום ובשורות טובות !”, which translates as, “Dear Gilad – one of the representatives of Mitzpe Kramim at the front, sent us a warm and moving message from the Jewish graves in the British Cemetery in Gaza. Shabbat peace and good news!”
Second, the Facebook page of Sivan Rahav Meir (סיון רהב מאיר), where the caption is “שלום סיוון. גדוד 74 חטיבה 188 שלח הבוקר מעזה. חייל יהודי ממלחמת העולם הראשונה זוכה לאזכרה כזו, אחרי שנים, על ידי חייל יהודי, אחיו”, or… “Hello Sivan. The 74th Battalion, 188th Brigade sent this morning from Gaza. A Jewish soldier from the First World War receives such a memorial, years later, by a Jewish soldier, his brother.”
And now … the video:
About a minute-and-a-half long, the video comprises a 360o view of the cemetery. It commences upon a pair of Merkava tanks at left center (one of which appears to have a cope cage installed atop the turret), and then very rapidly sweeps to the right. During this rapid movement the view encompasses damaged and destroyed buildings on the periphery of the cemetery, rows of tombstones within the cemetery, and then, at about eleven seconds, the view settles upon Pvt. Goldrich’s Israeli-flag-bedecked matzeva, with the captain on the right. Throughout this time explanatory comments are made by the soldier videoing the scene, and then, commencing at 24 seconds, the captain begins to recite Kaddish.
No other people are visible in the video, which I assume was taken by one of the two soldiers holding the flag in YNet photo #1.
And, the sound of two volleys of gunfire echo as a backdrop to the captain’s recitation of Kaddish.
Neither specifically a prayer about death or mourning, nor directed to the souls of those who have died – the prayer is routinely recited a number of times during Jewish religious services, in variations such as the Half Kaddish, Full Kaddish, and the Rabbi’s Kaddish – the Kaddish is instead an acknowledgement of God’s ongoing sovereignty in the world, its recitation meant to ensure the merit of the soul of the dead (or fallen, as the case may be) in the eyes of God. The actual Jewish mourner’s prayer is El Molai Rachamim, which is recited at grave sites and during funerals.
And, returning full-circle, the video ends where it began: With a view of the same two Merkava tanks in the background.
And so, for a brief moment in time – outside of time – past and present – 1918 (5678) and 2024 (5784) came together. Then, they moved apart, and then in its own way, time continued.
As does and always will the Jewish people.
Neither the war against Israel in the Middle East
nor opposition to the Jews’ right to a state will likely fade in the years ahead.
Let us see if we have the power and moral stamina to keep that hope alive.”
– Ruth R. Wisse
The following newspaper article lists the names – surnames and first initials – of soldiers of the Jewish Legion who fell in combat (a few of whom rest in Gaza), were wounded or missing, or who received military awards. The article was published on December 28, 1918 in The New York Times. Remarkable and a little incongruous, given the newspaper’s abiding and animating loathing of any form of Jewish peoplehood and Jewish Nationalism.
Here are the men listed in the article:
Officers
Julian, A.W., Capt.
Wolffe, Bernard, Lt.
Sergeants
Greyson, B.
Lasefit, Edward
Levenson, B.
Corporals
Klugman, J.
Lloyd, A.
Strong, H.
Trautenberg, Mendel
Privates
Abrahamson, S.
Alick, M.
Allonowitz, L.
Barnett, Daniel
Berman, J.
Bernstein, S. (buried in Gaza – see below)
Bienstock, M.
Black, L.
Bloomenthal, S.
Breslauer, J. (buried in Gaza – see below)
Canter, H
Dietz, M.
Freeman, M. (“N.”?) (buried in Gaza – see below)
Freiner, M.
Galinsky, M.
Goldrich, L. (buried in Gaza – see below)
Greyman, B.
Hart, S.
Hartman, Louis
Levy, J. (see below)
Malkin, J.
Marx, R.
Milderner, S.
Redlich, D.
Rosenberg, Frederick
Rosenberg, S. (buried in Gaza – see below)
Serember, C.
Shaft, J.
Sobovinsky, B.
Tenans, P.
Weinberg, W.
Zimmerman, M.
Missing
Levy, B., Sgt.
Levy, C., Sgt.
Wounded
Cross, H.B., Pvt.
Leftkovitch, P., Pvt.
Robinson, A.J., Pvt.
Military Cross
Brown, T.B., Capt.
Bullock, A.E., 2 Lt.
Cameron, J., 2 Lt.
Fliegelstone, T.H., 2 Lt.
Military Medal
Angel, J., Pvt.
Broom, M., Pvt.
Elfman, M., L/Cpl.
Gordon, C., Pvt.
Robinson, A.J., Pvt.
Speichville, R., Pvt.
Below you’ll find biographical details about – and a few photographs of – Jewish WW I military casualties buried in the two CWGC cemeteries in Gaza. Notice that the matzevot of least four of these men (Frederick A. Cohen, Paul E. Frankau, H. Furst, and J. Levy) bear crucifixes as religious symbols, while the matzevot of at least two (N. Freeman and Chaim Hazan) are apparently absent of any religious symbols. And, notice that Private Philip Greenberg was an American. He was from Chelsea, Massachusetts.
Deir El Belah War Cemetery
(Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission)
This Apple map gives a general view of the Gaza Strip.
This image of the cemetery – pre 2024 – appears at the CWGC website…
…while this is a satellite (?) image of the locality.
“Deir El Belah … is about 16 kilometres east of the Egyptian border, and 20 kilometres south-west of Gaza. To reach the cemetery, travel along main road number 4 and the entrance is to be found down a sand track just before a junction. Look out for a sign over the road on the right of the junction.”
– .ת.נ.צ.ב.ה. –
…Tehé Nafshó Tzrurá Bitzrór Haḥayím
May his soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life.
Breslauer, Jack Isadore, Pte., J/2862
Royal Fusiliers, 39th Battalion (Jewish Legion)
10/13/18
Mrs. M. Breslauer (?), 84 Angel Lane, Stratford, London, E, England, Poland
Tredegar Square, London, E, England
Born 1876
Deir El Belah War Cemetery – B,178 (Magen David on matzeva)
Inscription on matzeva: “Deeply mourned – By his wife and children – God grant that his soul – May rest in peace”
British Jewry Book of Honour 082
The Jewish Chronicle 12/20/18
The New York Times 12/28/18
______________________________
Chazan, Haim, Pte., 4878
Royal Fusiliers, 40th Battalion
6/10/19
Mr. and Mrs. Machloof and Simcha Hazan (parents), Rehov Ha Maaravim, Jerusalem, Israel
Born 1883
Deir El Belah War Cemetery – C,95 (No religious symbol on matzeva)
British Jewry Book of Honour – Not Listed
______________________________
Cohen, Frederick Arthur, L/Cpl., 450842
Regiment (Finsbury Rifles), 1st/11th Battalion
4/19/17
Mr. and Mrs. Henry “Hy” and Emma Louisa Cohen (parents), 56 Collingbourne Road, Hanwell, London, W12, England
Born 1893
Gaza War Cemetery – XIV,E,8 (Crucifix on matzeva)
British Jewry Book of Honour – Not Listed
______________________________
Frankau, Paul Ewart, Lt.
Rifle Brigade, 20th Battalion
11/2/17
Mrs. Frances Alica de Burgh Frankau (wife), Wilton, Macheke, Southern Rhodesia
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur and Julia Frankau (parents), 144 Mitcham Lane, London, SW16, England
Born 1887
Gaza War Cemetery – XIV,A,1 (Crucifix on matzeva)
British Jewry Book of Honour – 70
______________________________
Freeman, N., Pte., J/1266 (Died on active service)
Royal Fusiliers, 38th Battalion (Jewish Legion)
Born 10/27/18
14 Severn St., Commercial Road, London, E1, England
Deir El Belah War Cemetery – B,211 (No religious symbol on matzeva)
British Jewry Book of Honour – 90
The Jewish Chronicle 12/20/18
______________________________
Furst, H., Rifleman, 451104
London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles), 11th Battalion
4/19/17
Mrs. Jenny Furst (mother), 24 Burma Road, Stoke Newington, London, N16, England
Born 1896
Gaza War Cemetery – XIV,G,12 (Crucifix on matzeva)
Inscription on matzeva: “Not lost, but gone before”
British Jewry Book of Honour – 126
______________________________
Goldrich, I., Pte., J/249 (see above…!)
Royal Fusiliers, 38th Battalion (Jewish Legion)
10/19/18 (Died on active service)
Mr. and Mrs. Nison and Sharna Goldrich (parents), Liverpool, England
Mr. M. Goldrich (?), Zeromin, Plocka, pow Sierpiecki, Poland
Born Zeromin, Poland, 1890
Deir El Belah War Cemetery – D,84 (Magen David on matzeva)
British Jewry Book of Honour – 92
The Jewish Chronicle 12/20/18 (Lists serial as J/219)
The New York Times 12/28/18
______________________________
Greenbaum, D., Pte., 52702
Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry), 17th Squadron
6/29/17
Mr. and Mrs. Solomon and Sarah Greenbaum (parents), 94 Bridge St., Burdett Road, Bow, London, England
Born 1888
Deir El Belah War Cemetery – C,71 (Magen David on matzeva)
Inscription on matzeva: “Gone from our sight – But not from our hearts”
British Jewry Book of Honour – Not Listed
______________________________
Greenberg, Phillip, Pte., 6427 (United States)
Royal Fusiliers, 38th Battalion (Jewish Legion)
Mrs. Rebecca E. Greenberg (wife), 46 Quincy St., Roxbury, Ma., USA
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Sarah Greenberg (parents), 75 Walnut St., Chelsea, Ma., USA
Born 1/16/19
Deir El Belah War Cemetery – C,93 (Magen David on matzeva)
British Jewry Book of Honour – 94
______________________________
Jacobs, J., Driver, 624995
Royal Artillery, Honourable Artillery Company, B Battery Ammunition Col.
5/1/17
Mrs. Sarah Jacobs (mother), 78 Eric St., Mile End, London, E3, England
Born 1894
Deir El Belah War Cemetery – A,96 (Magen David on matzeva)
British Jewry Book of Honour – 99
Driver Jacobs’ matzeva.
______________________________
Rittenbaum, Barnett, Pte., J/1078
Royal Fusiliers, 38th Battalion (Jewish Legion)
12/19/18
Mrs. Milly Rittenbaum (wife), 26 Finch St., Brick Lane (26-30 Turk St.?), Spitalfields, London, E1, England
Born Warsaw, Poland, 1892
Mr. and Mrs. Mordecai and Freda Rittenbaum (parents)
Deir El Belah War Cemetery – C,25 (Magen David on matzeva)
British Jewry Book of Honour 113
______________________________
Rosenberg, Solomon, Pte., J/303
Royal Fusiliers, 38th Battalion (Jewish Legion)
10/21/18, Died on active service
Mrs. Esther Rosenberg (wife), 17-18 Carburton St., Great Portland St., London, W1, England
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Leybush and Malka Rosenberg (parents), Wloszcrowie, Kielecka, Poland
Born Poland, 1880
Deir El Belah War Cemetery – B,187 (Magen David on matzeva)
Inscription on matzeva: “In fond memory from Esther – Your loving wife”
British Jewry Book of Honour 114
The Jewish Chronicle 12/20/18
Gaza War Cemetery
(Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission)
Here’s a satellite (?) view of the cemetery.
“Gaza War Cemetery is 1.5 kilometres north-east of the city near the Bureir Road and 370 metres from the railway station. The Cemetery is approximately 8 kilometres to the left of the main dual carriageway, Highway 250 through Gaza, and is about 200 metres back from the road through an avenue of trees. Alternatively, turn left off the highway after 4 kilometres, continuing with Highway 4 until Sha’arei Aza junction and turn right, then turn right into Gaza proper, heading back towards the border. In this direction the cemetery will be found on the right hand side after approximately 3 kilometres.”
– .ת.נ.צ.ב.ה. –
…Tehé Nafshó Tzrurá Bitzrór Haḥayím
May his soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life.
Bernstein, Sam, Pte., J/698
Royal Fusiliers, 39th Battalion (Jewish Legion)
10/21/18 (Died on active service)
Mrs. Cissie Bernstein (wife), 69 Benson St., North St., Leeds, England
3 Cowper St., Leeds, England
Born 1878
Gaza War Cemetery – II,E,14
British Jewry Book of Honour – 80
The Jewish Chronicle 11/8/18, 12/20/18 (Lists name as “Bernstein, Simon”)
The New York Times 12/28/18
______________________________
Goodfriend, Hyman, Rifleman, 573510
London Regiment, 17th Battalion
11/7/17 (Wounded in action in January of 1917)
Esquire and Mrs. Michael and Leah Goodfriend (parents), 70 Settles St., Commercial Road, London, E1, England
Miss Sarah Shulman (fiancee), 39 Nottingham Place, E, London, England
Born 1892
Gaza War Cemetery – II,E,17 (Magen David on matzeva)
Inscription on matzeva: “Deeply mourned – By his beloved parents – And family”
British Jewry Book of Honour – 93
The Jewish Chronicle 2/16/17, 11/30/17, 3/28/19
The Jewish Chronicle (Obituary Page) 11/30/17
______________________________
Joseph, Wilfrid Gordon Aron, 2 Lt.
Northamptonshire Regiment, 1st Battalion (Attached to Norfolk Regiment, 1st/5th Battalion)
4/19/17
Mrs. Winifred L. Joseph (wife), 28 Heber Road, Cricklewood, NW2, London, England
Mr. Edward A. Joseph (father), 23 Clanricarde Gardens, Paddington, London, W2, England
Born 1896
Gaza War Cemetery – II,E,16
British Jewry Book of Honour – 72
The Jewish Chronicle 5/25/17, 11/23/17
The Jewish Chronicle (Obituary Page) 11/23/17
______________________________
Levy, J., 2 Lt.
Norfolk Regiment, 1st/4th Battalion
4/19/17
2 Thornfield Road, Linthorpe, Middlesborough, England
Gaza War Cemetery – XXX,F,10 (Crucifix on matzeva)
British Jewry Book of Honour 125, 610 (Lists unit as “1/5th Battalion”)
The Jewish Chronicle 6/15/17
______________________________
Magasiner, Maurice, Rifleman, 451369
London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles), 11th Battalion
11/2/17
Mrs. Rosalie Magasiner (wife), 49 High St., Stoke Newington, London, N16, England
Born 1896
Inscription on matzeva: Always remembered
Gaza War Cemetery – XIV,B,1 (Magen David on matzeva)
British Jewry Book of Honour 481 (Lists serial as “3693” and indicates not KIA)
Referentially speaking…
Here’s a Book
Adler, Michael, and Freeman, Max R.G., British Jewry Book of Honour, Caxton Publishing Company, London, England, 1922 (Republished in 2006 by Naval & Military Press, Uckfield, East Sussex)
Israeli Armed Forces
IDF Ranks, at Wikipedia
188th Armored Brigade and 74th Armored Battalion, at Wikipedia
The Kaddish Prayer