NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Hashomer

Hashomer - (Hebrew) ("The Guard") - Jewish defense organization in Palestine organized 1909, ceased to operate after founding of the Haganah in 1920. The purpose of Hashomer was to provide guard services for Jewish settlements, freeing Jewish communities from dependence upon foreign consulates and Arab watchmen for their security. Hashomer was originated by socialist Zionists, mostly members of Poalei Tziyon, including Israel Shochat, Manya Shochat, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi and Rachel Yanaait, who had earlier formed a small secret guard society called Bar Giora, which guarded only the Sejera commune (now Illanit) and Mesha (now Kfar Tavor). Bar Giora had been founded by Alexander Zeid and Yitzhak Ben-Zvi among others. Hashomer was successful in providing defense for settlements throughout the country. It aroused the ire of Arab watchmen who lost their jobs and of pilferers, and antagonized the Arab population by retaliatory raids. During World War I many of its members were exiled by the Turkish government because they were enemy (Russian) nationals. When the Turks caught Yosef Lishanski of the Nili group he told all he knew, implicating 12 members of Hashomer. The group nonetheless survived. In 1920 it was decided to organize the Haganah, a much broader-based group, to cope with new defense challenges and needs of the growing community. Manya Shochat (or Mania Shohat)(Born 1880*; Died 1961) was the mother of the Kibbutz movement and collective settlement in Palestine. ... Yitzhak Ben-Zvi Yitzhak Ben--Zvi (November 24, 1884, Poltava, Ukraine - April 23, 1963, Jerusalem, Israel) was a historian, Labor Zionist leader, and the second Israeli president (1952 - 1963). ... Yitzhak Ben-Zvi Yitzhak Ben--Zvi (November 24, 1884, Poltava, Ukraine - April 23, 1963, Jerusalem, Israel) was a historian, Labor Zionist leader, and the second Israeli president (1952 - 1963). ... An Israeli postage stamp depicting Sarah Aaronsohn and her home in Zichron Yaakov. ... The Haganah (Hebrew: Defense, ×”×’× ×”) was a Jewish paramilitary organization in Palestine during the British mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948. ...

Source: Zionism and Israel Information Center by permission.

External Link

"Hashomer" article in Encyclopedic Dictionary of Zionism and Israel

Results from FactBites:

Hashomer Hatzair Inc. - HASHOMERHATZAIRHOME (258 words)
	Hashomer Hatzair is a youth movement, based on the principles of Progressive Zionism, Social Justice, Progressive Judaism and self-actualization, and committed to peace and equality.
	Hashomer Hatzair believes firmly in social justice and community responsibility, and facilitates lasting and powerful group and individual friendships.
	The history of Hashomer Hatzair in North America began in 1923 with the arrival from Europe of Jewish immigrants - members of the youth movement in their countries of origin.

From Hashomer to the Israel Defense Forces Armed Jewish Defense in Palestine (2693 words)
	Hashomer's condition, before undertaking to guard and secure any settlement, was that only Jewish laborers be employed in it.
	Hashomer was thus able to regard these laborers as a reserve for guard duty and quickly organized its operations in a three-tiered hierarchy: a small core of founders (veterans of Bar Giora); a larger circle of active guards, members of Hashomer; and the Jewish laborers, who termed themselves a "labor legion", as reserves.
	In 1913, the Hashomer leadership established relations with the institutions of the Zionist Organization in Europe, but this connection was disrupted in August 1914 when World War I broke out.

More results at FactBites »

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