The Chizbatron Band
The 'Chizbatron' Band (herein: the 'Band') was the Palmach's musical and entertainment band, which was founded in January 1948 and became one the most famous cultural contributions of the Palmach.
The 'Chizbatron' Band (herein: the 'Band') was the Palmach's musical and entertainment band, which was founded in January 1948 and became one the most famous cultural contributions of the Palmach. During its seven years of existence up until the War of Independence, the Palmach, whose units were scattered among the Collective Agricultural Settlements' farmsteads, had no use for a band of its own. The need arose when the War of Independence broke out (On November 30th 1947), during which the Palmach units were cut off from their farmstead bases and became "full-time" warriors. The military entertainment troop model was customary among the Second World War armies as a means of divergence and raising the morale of the soldiers by allowing then to be entertained. The Yishuv volunteers to the British Army also had their own entertainment band – the Jewish Brigade Band – Towards the end of the Second World War. This model was found suitable for the Palmach as well.
The band mainly toured the combat units and brought an optimistic, fresh breath of air even to the farthest army posts as well as to the home front. The band began with two to three "band-freaks" who were recruited from the companies by the band founder, Chaim Chefer, who wrote their first show for his platoon that was living under field conditions. On February 2nd, 1948, the band held its first performance before Palmach squad commander training cadets in kibbutz Dalia. Most of the shows included songs and skits, whose words were written by Chaim Chefer, Chaim Guri and Moshe Shamir and composed by Sasha Argov, Moshe Vilensky and more. Those performances expressed the spirit prevalent among the warriors, commented on phenomena in the battalions' lives, attached the British rule and did not hesitate to criticize the "Jobniks" (Non-combat members) or the idea of dismantling the Palmach (In their song, "It's all a Matter of Character.")
The band toured around by truck, command-car and jeep. Many of its performances were in the front line, under tough conditions. Often times their stage was a bed of rocks, a dusty dirt road, or the truck itself. The lighting was supplied by the Jeep headlights, the sun or moon, a lux illumination unit or a bonfire. The band often performed four to five times a day, each time before a different squad. It performed 24 times in ten days at the besieged Negev. Some of its members were injured when their truck hit a landmine on the way to a performance. The fact that the 'Chizbatron' performed in the most dangerous places during the war contributed to raising the morale, and some even said that "the 'Chizbatron' equals a battalion." It should be noted that the Palmach commander, Yigal Alon, forbade the band members to participate in combat operations.
Shayke Offir and Naomi Polani were the first band members, who performed while being accompanied by an accordion. As time went by, other members joined them and their total count went up between ten and fifteen. The manpower during the war was fickle, and the process of choosing the artists was quite spontaneous.
Rehearsals took place in Jaffa, and performances in the front line were scheduled by the Palmach HQ. In the summer of 1949 the band was dismantled, not before its confronted the IDF Education officer, who demanded that harsh texts against the Palmach's dismantling be censored. Rehearsals too place in Jaffa, and the Palmach HQ booked their front line performances.
The band was dismantled in summer of 1949, not before in confronted the IDF Education officer, who demanded that harsh texts against the Palmach dismantlement be censored.
The band mainly toured the combat units and brought an optimistic, fresh breath of air even to the farthest army posts as well as to the home front. The band began with two to three "band-freaks" who were recruited from the companies by the band founder, Chaim Chefer, who wrote their first show for his platoon that was living under field conditions. On February 2nd, 1948, the band held its first performance before Palmach squad commander training cadets in kibbutz Dalia. Most of the shows included songs and skits, whose words were written by Chaim Chefer, Chaim Guri and Moshe Shamir and composed by Sasha Argov, Moshe Vilensky and more. Those performances expressed the spirit prevalent among the warriors, commented on phenomena in the battalions' lives, attached the British rule and did not hesitate to criticize the "Jobniks" (Non-combat members) or the idea of dismantling the Palmach (In their song, "It's all a Matter of Character.")
The band toured around by truck, command-car and jeep. Many of its performances were in the front line, under tough conditions. Often times their stage was a bed of rocks, a dusty dirt road, or the truck itself. The lighting was supplied by the Jeep headlights, the sun or moon, a lux illumination unit or a bonfire. The band often performed four to five times a day, each time before a different squad. It performed 24 times in ten days at the besieged Negev. Some of its members were injured when their truck hit a landmine on the way to a performance. The fact that the 'Chizbatron' performed in the most dangerous places during the war contributed to raising the morale, and some even said that "the 'Chizbatron' equals a battalion." It should be noted that the Palmach commander, Yigal Alon, forbade the band members to participate in combat operations.
Shayke Offir and Naomi Polani were the first band members, who performed while being accompanied by an accordion. As time went by, other members joined them and their total count went up between ten and fifteen. The manpower during the war was fickle, and the process of choosing the artists was quite spontaneous.
Rehearsals took place in Jaffa, and performances in the front line were scheduled by the Palmach HQ. In the summer of 1949 the band was dismantled, not before its confronted the IDF Education officer, who demanded that harsh texts against the Palmach's dismantling be censored. Rehearsals too place in Jaffa, and the Palmach HQ booked their front line performances.
The band was dismantled in summer of 1949, not before in confronted the IDF Education officer, who demanded that harsh texts against the Palmach dismantlement be censored.