- Summary
- "A fantastical propaganda play depicting an armed revolt financed the purchase of the yacht Abril and its conversion to an "illegal" immigrant passenger ship renamed the Ben Hecht. The plan was to evade the British naval blockade and bring Holocaust survivor refugees to Palestine. Henry Mandel volunteered aboard the Ben Hecht, a converted yacht that challenged the British blockade of Jewish immigrants to pre-state Israel. Captured and detained in Acre Prison, Mandel aided the efforts of prisoners planning an escape. After release, Mandel helped set up a secret bazooka shell plant in New York, which he helped to reassemble in Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Mandel was an Orthodox Jew whose reminiscences provide a uniquely illuminating perspective on the creation of the Jewish state. Mandel's story is explicated in a running commentary that includes the personal narratives of other members of the Ben Hecht crew as well as historical background"-- Provided by publisher.
- Variant Title
- Henry Mandel and the Mercy Ship Ben Hecht
- Format
- Book
- Published
- Brookline, MA : Cherry Orchard Books, an imprint of Academic Studies Press, 2021
©2021
- Locale
- Palestine
New York (State)
New York
United States
États-Unis
Middle East
Eretz Israel
Israel
- Contents
-
Part One: Interviews and Reminiscences of Jewish Illegal Immigrant Ship Ben Hecht Crewman Henry Mandel
Vienna Born, Bronx Bred
The War Comes Home
The Merchant Marine
From Gowanus Canal to Atlantic Crossing
Final Preparations
The Irgun Had Other Ideas
Bazooka Plant
Part Two: Letters and Contextual Commentary
The Bergson Group
The Mission and the Crew
Atlantic Crossing to the Mediterranean Sea
The Palestine Run
Piracy on the High Seas
Breakout
Release
Machal
A Mercy Ship's Legacy
Part Three: Henry Mandel Reflects
Family and Brotherly Love
Civil Servant and Union Activist.
- Other Authors/Editors
- Flaks, Samuel, 1984- editor.
- Notes
-
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Part One: Interviews and Reminiscences of Jewish Illegal Immigrant Ship Ben Hecht Crewman Henry Mandel -- Vienna Born, Bronx Bred -- The War Comes Home -- The Merchant Marine -- From Gowanus Canal to Atlantic Crossing -- Final Preparations -- The Irgun Had Other Ideas -- Bazooka Plant -- Part Two: Letters and Contextual Commentary -- The Bergson Group -- The Mission and the Crew -- Atlantic Crossing to the Mediterranean Sea -- The Palestine Run -- Piracy on the High Seas -- Breakout -- Release -- Machal -- A Mercy Ship's Legacy -- Part Three: Henry Mandel Reflects -- Family and Brotherly Love -- Civil Servant and Union Activist.
