Commemorating Palmach women who fell in service
Thirty three women died during their service. Three of sickness, three died in action prior to the War of Independence, twenty during the war, while fighting and defending army posts, army bases and secluded settlements and others died in combat related accidents.
The inclusion of women in combat positions reflected on the way they were commemorated, whether killed in action or otherwise their names were mentioned in the fatalities lists published in the Palmach journal. Front pages, articles and eulogies were dedicated to Palmach women who died during operational accidents (issue no. 33- Hannah Senesh, issue no.35, Haviva Reich, issue no. 41- Bracha Fold). They were not, however, mentioned in Orders of the day and general eulogies, such as the Palmach anthem where the masculine was used to include both male and female- "hundreds of our brave and humble brothers are marching with us…" (The Palmach Establishment Order: Palmach journal no.61), without the specific intention of belittling Palmach women's contribution.
The same trend became evident later on, when the masculine was used once again in the Palmach book - "We shall remember the fighters that died so others could live…"
Palmach women's contribution is mentioned in the Palmach Yizkor (Jewish Memorial Prayer)- "Palmach shall proudly remember and lament its sons and daughters… we shall remember our male and female members…" but the masculine is used in order to mention the male and female fighters- "The Palmach shall remember the names of the long line of male fighters…" During the late 1980's ex Army personnel management officer, Shosh Spector established a commemoration project which emphasized Palmach women's contribution to the organization. Twenty two new varieties of Gerbera, nurtured in Dr. Shuv's plant nursery in Ganay- Am were named after Palmach women who died in service, thus symbolizing their unique contribution to the entire defense force and especially to the Palmach.
The same trend became evident later on, when the masculine was used once again in the Palmach book - "We shall remember the fighters that died so others could live…"
Palmach women's contribution is mentioned in the Palmach Yizkor (Jewish Memorial Prayer)- "Palmach shall proudly remember and lament its sons and daughters… we shall remember our male and female members…" but the masculine is used in order to mention the male and female fighters- "The Palmach shall remember the names of the long line of male fighters…" During the late 1980's ex Army personnel management officer, Shosh Spector established a commemoration project which emphasized Palmach women's contribution to the organization. Twenty two new varieties of Gerbera, nurtured in Dr. Shuv's plant nursery in Ganay- Am were named after Palmach women who died in service, thus symbolizing their unique contribution to the entire defense force and especially to the Palmach.