In 1943, with the Nazis plan to murder the Jews of Europe well known, 22 year-old Hana Senesh joined the British Army. Hana was one of 240 Jews from Palestine who volunteered to parachute into Europe to fight the Nazis and help Jews to hide. Although well aware of the dangers in volunteering , Hana said:
' I have to go. And, if I fail, my death will not be in vain. Maybe the rumour will reach the Jews that an emissary from Palestine arrived and was caught and hearts will throb in the ghettos and in the woods: we have to hold on, we have not been deserted... and maybe salvation is near. Faith can work miracles.'
Parachuted into Nazi-occupied Serbia in 1944, Hana was caught trying to cross the Hungarian border. After months of torture at the hands of the Gestapo, Hana Senesh was executed. |
