Hannah Senesh is someone that I learned about many years ago. I’d like to say that she caught my eye then and maybe she did, but I don’t really remember. I was probably around 7 or 8 as I seem to remember it being discussed in class as part of our discussion about Begin and Sadat.
I was too young to really understand what they were getting at, but now I remember things differently. My teachers discussed peace with Egypt and how historic a moment it was. They talked about Judea and Samaria and that maybe we would see a meeting with King Hussein to discuss giving the West Bank to Jordan. It is only as an adult that I see the politics of my teachers as the one discussed it in terms of the West Bank and the other spoke fondly of riding his motorcycle through Judea and Samaria.
What I do remember for certain was being surprised to hear that a girl had fought during the war, but Hannah Senesh belonged to my grandparent’s era and that seemed a million miles away so I must have filed the information. Or so I think, it is almost 30 years ago and some memories grow more faint.
What I do know is that I enjoyed reading what Rishon Rishon said about her as well as Imshin.
You don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate her words or her bravery. She was worth remembering.
I think I know someone you’d like to meet, http://lioness-pride.blogspot.com/2004/10/aristides-de-sousa-mendes-and-portie.html