Jews Are Here, Because We Fought. Always.

"Seventy-seven years ago today, Jews launched a historic operation that paved the way toward independence. Not by mistake, David Ben-Gurion named the mission after another ancient leap of faith."

By Joanna Landau and Michael Golden

In 1956, when Cecil B. DeMille directed The Ten Commandments, he shattered the record for most expensive Hollywood film budget. As often happens with historical dramas, DeMille had to make decisions about what to include from the historical record — and what to change. And because of the way he portrayed the film’s climactic scene, there are millions of people whose impression of the story of Exodus includes God parting the sea just seconds before the Hebrews were able to make safe passage across it.

DeMille probably made the right call. The film set records at the box office and has stood the test of time. But in doing so, he deprived a vast audience from experiencing one of the seminally inspiring stories of the Jewish People.

In the Talmudic account of those events, we learn that as the Hebrews were pinned down between the massive Egyptian Army and the Sea of Reeds, God commanded Moses to lead the Twelve Tribes of Israel straight into the waters. But they hesitated; none wanted to be the first to risk their life. It wasn’t until a man named Nachshon ben Aminadav jumped into the waves — and then became submerged above his nose — that God ordered Moses to lift his staff and spread his hand over the sea. Only at that point did the water divide, allowing the Israelites to cross unscathed, escaping Pharaoh’s forces.

The name Nachshon derives from nachshol, the Hebrew word for “tidal wave.” Facing the sea’s peril, the son of Jacob did not hesitate; he bravely took action.

A little over three millennia later, on April 5, 1948 — 77 years ago today — a military mission known as “Operation Nachshon” was given the green light by the man who would become Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion. Anticipating an attack on Jerusalem by Arab forces — they had already hamstrung the Jews’ supply route from Tel Aviv — the Jewish paramilitary unit known as the Haganah prepared to execute its first major operation. Up against it, and with no time to dither, just like their operation’s namesake, they did not hesitate. The brigade of 1,500 men conquered three Arab camps that were blockading the mountain road — and enabled the Jews to move critical supplies to the heart of Israel.

A convoy of 300 trucks, led by Yitzhak Rabin, delivers supplies to Jerusalem during Operation Nachshon, April, 1948.

Again and again, the Jewish People have been forced to anticipate, innovate, and take bold action in order to survive. And thrive. Our Tribe has accomplished this by repeatedly adapting to the next challenge — at times unsure of our own path forward, yet never daunted.

As we approach the Passover holiday, all of us at JEWDICIOUS are sending our heartfelt gratitude and admiration to the incredibly brave Israelis who have fought back and sacrificed so much over the last 546 days. We are as thankful to them as we are to every single one of our ancestors who’ve steadfastly battled to defend our Star. Those courageous warriors who’ve enabled us to live and to love — and to give back to the world.

Jews are a proud people for a reason.

JOANNA LANDAU and MICHAEL GOLDEN are coauthors of the International Bestseller, ETHICAL TRIBING: Connecting the Next Generation to the Digital Era (from which parts of this article have been excerpted).

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