Magnificent certificate on vellum, written and illustrated by hand, presented to Herbert Samuel upon his appointment to the role of British High Commissioner of Palestine, by Jerusalem's Orthodox Community Council (Va'ad Ha'Ir). Jerusalem, July 12, 1920. Signed by members of the Council's presidency.
Ink and watercolor on vellum.
A certificate presented to Herbert Samuel on the occasion of his appointment as High Commissioner for Palestine. In the center is a text, in Hebrew, "To his supreme excellency Sir Herbert Samuel, Governor of Eretz Israel", written in calligraphic script incorporating golden ink: "The Jewish community in Jerusalem is filled with feelings of happiness and pride to see you in it as the first Jewish Commissioner in the Holy Land after two thousand years, and expresses deep gratitude to His Majesty's government for selecting you to carry out the promises that were given to our people in the Balfour Declaration…"
The text is signed by three members of the "Jerusalem Orthodox Community Council" (a body that represented most of Jerusalem's Jewish communities during the period of the British Mandate in Palestine): Sh. Gordon, Zalman HaCohen Rubin and Shmuel Lupo.
The blessing is surrounded by a colorful frame that integrates vegetal motifs and two Stars-of-David. At the top of the frame is an illustration of Jerusalem against the background of the rising sun. At the bottom is an illustration of a lion breaking through the chains binding him (symbolizing the "Lion of Judah").
42X53 cm. Good condition. Creases and light stains. Tears to upper margins.

Nine press photographs from the period of the War of Independence. Jerusalem and other places in Palestine (one photograph from Cyprus), 1948.
The photographs depict, among others: an Israeli armored vehicle crossing "Ben-Yehuda" street in Jerusalem; Jewish fighters in a morning prayer over sand sacks and rifles, after a night guard near Jerusalem; two fighters in Kibutz Negba, among pits in one of the orchards; convoy of Jeeps leaving a Jewish settlements to the fighting zone in the Negev (some of the fighters are seen wearing Arab garments); convoy with supplies entering besieged Jerusalem during the "first ceasefire"; Arab children in front of the Western Wall; barracks in the Cyprus detention camps; and more.
Pasted on the back of five photographs are press information notes. Ink stamps on the back of seven photographs (most of them of the press agency Acme Newspictures). Pasted on the back of one photograph is a newspaper clipping with a print of the photograph.
Photographs: approx. 18X22.5 cm. Condition varies. Good overall condition. Slight creases and defects (mainly at margins and on the back). Small tears to upper margins of one photograph (not damaging photograph). Pen marking on one photograph. On the back of one photograph appears a barcode sticker.

"From the battle in Mishmar HaEmek, occupation of the Galilee and occupation of Ramla-Lod - to breaking the siege in the Negev" (Hebrew) - album with 117 photographs depicting the soldiers of the second battalion of Palmach (Yiftach Brigade) during Operation Yoav to conquer the Negev in the Independence War. [ca. October-December 1948].
Operation Yoav was carried out during the last stage of the Independence War, between the 15th and 22nd October 1948; its goal was to open the road to the isolated Negev, to destroy and push away the Egyptian forces, and guarantee that the Negev is part of Israel. This was one of the greatest operations in the Independence War and was successful: the road to the Negev was opened, the Egyptian forces retreated, and towards the end of the operation Beersheba was captured.
A dedication appears at the beginning of the album, dated December 3, 1948, indicating that the album was given as a gift by the soldiers of the second battalion of the Palmach to one of the settlements in the Negev where the soldiers stayed during the siege on the Negev and during the operation. Operation Yoav was conducted in the area of the road between Majdal-Ashkelon and Bayt Jibrin (present day road no. 35), and the photographs in the album document sites, settlements and positions in these areas.
Among the photographs in the album: workers in a Kibutz workshop, water tower in Kibutz Yad Mordechai, light planes of "HaNegev Squadron" (in the air and on the ground), sappers' activity (placing mines), soldiers and female soldiers on Jeeps in Beit Hanun, Arab prisoners, looted vehicles and arms, actor Raphael Klatchkin performing for soldiers (Klatchkin composed the songs "Ha'amini Yom Yavo" and "BeArvot HaNegev" during the war), daily life of soldiers in pits and positions (holding a shell, with a communication device, cooking etc.), and other photographs. The album opens with a large photograph of the emblem of the Palmach's second battalion - a camel and a sword on the background of grain stalks.
On most of the leaves are citations from the scriptures and from songs, by verses of consolation, encouragement or revenge from Psalms, quotations from the bible regarding settling the country and its independence, and more. Towards the end of the album appears a text directly referring to the operation: "When the first round of the battle to liberate the Negev ended, our brigade writes an additional leaf in the history of its battles. The besieged Negev was liberated! The Negev is open! Egyptian forces were defeated and scattered. The Egyptian forces were besieged. Soon a day comes when its power will be demolished!" (Hebrew). On the last page appears the Palmach anthem and Palmach emblem (written by hand).
Total of 117 photographs: 92 9X14 cm photographs + 24 6X9 cm photographs + 1 photograph of approx. 22.5X17.5 cm (emblem of the 2nd battalion). Photographs are in good condition. Most photographs bear an inscription in pencil or felt pen on the back. Album: 43X31 cm. Good overall condition. Tears and wear at margins of binding. Lacking tissue guards; tears and creases to tissue guards.

Pesach 5707 / "Autumn passed…". A booklet published by Co. Co. C. G. E. [Comitato Coordinatore Circoli Giovanili Ebraici] - Coordinating Committee for Jewish Youth Organizations, [Genova, Italy, 1947]. Italian and some Hebrew.
A booklet printed for Jewish youth who stayed in Italy after the war and is dedicated to the holiday of Pesach. The booklet was used, apparently, as a non-traditional Haggadah for the holiday and it includes a diverse collection of texts, with detailed historic explanations about the Haggadah, the history of the holiday and the customs of the Seder, and is accompanied by charming naïve illustrations, songs and sheet music.
A complete chapter (6 pages) and an illustration are dedicated to the story of the Warsaw uprising. "Had Gadya" appears in the center double-spread, and the following pages are dedicated to immigration to Palestine. Additional illustrations depict illegal immigration ships, a "Hora" dance around a flag on a mast, boys around the Pesach Seder table, the Four Brothers, and more.
Between the years 1945-1951 about 70,000 refugees and displaced persons from She'erit Hapletha stayed in Italy in some 35 Displaced Persons Camps. Besides the Displaced Persons Camps, there were also about 77 pioneers training camps, "Aliyat HaNo'ar" children's homes and training Kibutzim for youth, which were established and operated on the base of political and ideological attribution and were directed by emissaries from Palestine and representatives of political parties and youth movements in Europe. During the years 1945-1946 there were several attempts to set up a united Zionist-Pioneering association to unite all the Jewish youth parties and movements Like the "Unified Zionist Organization" and "Noham" (No'ar Haluzi Meuchad) in Germany, "Ichud" in Poland and "HeHalutz HaAchid" in Italy, but all the attempts failed and She'erit Hapletha kept their original movement or party affinity. This booklet was printed by such an organization - "The Coordinating Committee of Jewish Youth Movements" active in Genova in North Italy, where from many of She'erit Hapletha sailed on their way to Palestine.
[1] Title cover, 35, [4] pp, 20.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Fragile paper. Front cover, first and last leaves and center double spread are detached or partly detached. Small tears to margins of leaves (by the spine), with several missing pieces. Ownership inscription (contemporary) on inner side of front cover.