The Director General of the EAJC attended the ceremony marking the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Tel Hai

Dr. Haim Ben-Yakov, Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, attended the solemn ceremony commemorating the 105th anniversary of the legendary Battle of Tel Hai. The event was held in Israel's parliament, with the participation of Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, alongside other political figures, academics, and public leaders.

The ceremony honored the memory of Joseph Trumpeldor and his comrades who fell heroically while defending the Jewish settlement in 1920. Trumpeldor's legacy – as the first Jewish officer in the Russian army, a recipient of four St. George Crosses, who lost his arm in the Russo-Japanese War – profoundly influenced Ze'ev Jabotinsky, the founder of Revisionist Zionism. 

At the outbreak of World War I, despite his disability, Trumpeldor traveled to Egypt, where he formed a unit that fought under the British flag, notably in the Gallipoli campaign. Trumpeldor's heroic death inspired Jabotinsky to establish the Beitar youth movement, named in his honor (Brit Yosef Trumpeldor). The Battle of Tel Hai stands as a critical milestone in Zionist history.

The Director General of the EAJC commented: "We were honored to participate in this moving ceremony, which once again highlighted the absolute, indomitable Israeli character and ironclad resilience, both historical and contemporary. The remarks delivered today should inspire us to seek common ground. Highly engaging historical research and publications, revealing the deeply respectful relationship between Ze'ev Jabotinsky and Berl Katznelson, serve as a vital lesson: even profound ideological differences do not preclude respectful dialogue."

Photo: מאיר אליפור