Heroes: Tales from the Israeli War

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

This stirring collection of stories about the effects of war on Israeli civilians and soldiers ranges from reports on the combat experiences of military recruits in the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War and the invasion of Lebanon, to a consideration of General Israel Tal, ``father of the Merkava,'' said to be the finest tank in the world. Hellman ( Chief ) discusses research and development of the formidable weapon under Tal's unorthodox leadership; he shows how the Israeli Defense Forces differ from other armies in technical might and morale. Most affecting are chapters telling of two unusual Israeli heroines. One, Raya Harnick, after losing her son in battle, became one of the country's foremost opponents of the 1982 ``Operation Peace for Galilee.'' The other, Smadar Haran, lost her family in a 1979 terrorist attack and responded with militant stoicism: refusing to give the enemy the satisfaction of watching her suffer, she remarried, began a new family and steadfastly declined to voice anti-Arab sentiments, remarking wisely, ``If we don't overcome the enormous pain felt on both sides, we'll never make peace.'' (May)

Library Journal

In seven concise yet fecund chapters, Hellman recounts the private heroism of Israeli citizens in defense of their adopted homeland. These stories are not the glitzy, Hollywood versions of Audie Murphy, but rather the quietly determined tales of housewives, mechanical engineers, and ``old'' young men and how they fought for Israel. Unlike similar accounts of personal heroism in Vietnam, there is no questioning here of the Israel cause or consideration of the Palestinian point of view. Some of the stories have previously appeared in The Atlantic. Recommended for large collections in this area.-- David P. Snider, Casa Grande P.L. , Ariz.