A Diamond in the Rough

by Marilyn Land

  “That said, I have decided to return to Jerusalem to continue working with the Hadassah Medical Organization. I have learned so much about the organization’s involvement throughout Palestine and what they have done not only for the Jews but for the Arabs too. The work is so satisfying and aspiring; they are growing famous for never giving up on a patient before they absolutely must. I agree with that wholeheartedly.

  “Hadassah’s first project in Palestine was directly connected with the welfare of women and children. Being a Pediatrician, I will always have a special place in my heart for helping children, for helping all children. I might add that their nursing school is unprecedented, and I can see you being a part of it. Why don’t you consider coming with me? This tour is for six months. If we’re lucky, the War will end by then, and you can return to England. Think on it.

  Lexi sat quietly collecting her thoughts and digesting what her father had said. “Are you planning to move to Palestine permanently? You only mentioned my returning. Are you selling this house?”

  “Whoa, not so fast. That might be what I decide somewhere down the road, maybe when the War is over. For now, I’m not thinking that far ahead. There is a ship sailing in early June under the guise of a hospital ship. It will not only carry medical personnel, but much needed supplies. The ship is coming from America to Liverpool and then sailing on to Haifa. There will be numerous doctors and nurses from the States when it arrives to pick up those who have signed on from all over England. I’m not certain what the final number will be.”

  “Pops, I’m truly happy for you. I know you miss Mum, and the work you are doing at the Hadassah Hospital agrees with you. You look happy and content.

  “If you are not giving up the house, am I to assume that I can continue to live here? Since the War is ongoing, I’m not anticipating any difficulty in finding a position at a hospital nearby.”

  “Of course, you can stay here. This is your home.”

  Lexi figured she had approximately five weeks to make contact with Jake. She rang up Marcus successfully, but unfortunately he had no news for her. There had been no word.

  The wedding came and went. She tried reaching Marcus again on several occasions, but when she was told he wasn’t available, in lieu of leaving a message opted to say she would try again.

  Two weeks prior to her father’s sailing date, she was forced to make her decision—the most important decision of her life to date. Although it was hers to make, it would affect not only her, but Jake and their unborn child, as well. She had to get this one right; there was no room for error.

  War weary London was depressing at best; Palestine was a total unknown; she only had her father’s view of what her life would be like living in Jerusalem.

  For days, she had gone over and over which path to take. First and foremost she thought long and hard about telling her father she was pregnant. What if he refused to leave her on her own to have the baby? He had finally found a life for himself after losing her Mum; could she risk ruining that for him? Mark had just gotten married, and she certainly didn’t want to be a burden to him and Rosalie. Her brother Sam was in medical school, and she would be living in the house alone. What would happen when she went into labor? There would be no one to help her.

  Marcus never entered her thoughts except to see if he had heard from Jake. He and Elena would have welcomed her with open arms and taken care of her and the baby until Jake returned home. She had only briefly met Marcus once and had never met Elena. The thought simply never crossed her mind.

  She could wait no longer. As Manny sat reading the paper, she approached him. “We have to talk. I need some Pops advice.”

  Manny sat listening without interruption as Lexi returned to 11 April 1941 when Jake’s family perished in The Good Friday Raid. She lowered her voice as she told him about the letter her Mum withheld from her until her last days and then begged her forgiveness. Her voice became more upbeat as she told of running into Jake when she returned home on holiday break from school.

  “When Jake and I found ourselves attending the same party, we couldn’t believe it. We fell into one another’s arms and didn’t let go for the remainder of the weekend. We were so young when we met, but we both knew from that very first moment there would never be anyone else for either of us but each other. We had both grown up during our separation; grown up too fast perhaps, but War has a tendency to affect every aspect of our lives. It certainly has ours.

  “I returned to school, and Jake returned to his base. He rang me up at school the end of January and told me that he probably wouldn’t be able to keep in touch on a regular basis, but he would write or call any time he could. That’s the last time I heard from him.

  “I have written a couple of times, but received no response. He introduced me to the gentleman who delivered his letter and gave him my contact information to forward any news. The gentleman’s name is Marcus Hirsch; his father worked with Jake’s father at De Beers. Having lost his entire family, Mr. Hirsch is listed as his contact.

  “I have checked in with him from time to time, and he too has heard nothing. As he pointed out to me the last time we spoke, sometimes no news is good news so I try to keep my thoughts positive.

  “I haven’t said anything to you about any of this because you weren’t here, and I knew you would be returning for my graduation and Mark’s wedding. When you revealed your plans to return to Palestine, I was taken aback; I wasn’t expecting that at all. Please understand, I am not asking you to change your plans in any way. I’m just trying to make some plans of my own, and I’m having a difficult time.

  “Before the weekend was over, Jake asked me to marry him, and I accepted.” She pulled the chain out for her father to see. “Jake gave me this ring before he left. If there had been time, we would have found a Rabbi to marry us, even though I would have been risking expulsion from nursing school.”

  Manny pulled her into his arms and held her close. “I am so sorry I have not been here for you. I see now that it was selfish of me to leave not only you but your brothers too, traveling thousands of miles away thinking only of myself. I know how close you were to Mum, and so soon after you lost her was not the time for me to exit your life too.

  “I’ve always been aware of how much you and Jake care for one another; Mum and I discussed it often. You reminded us of ourselves. She never confided in me about the letter; never mentioned Mr. Hirsch’s visit. I think she knew that I would have disagreed with her decision and insisted she give it to you.

  “Why don’t you consider coming with me? As I told you, the nursing school has an excellent reputation and you can take some specialized courses while you use your nursing skills in so many needed ways. The Hadassah Medical Organization is always looking for good people. When this damn War is finally over, we can return to England, and I’ll throw you and Jake the biggest and best wedding you ever imagined.”

  Manny realized that Lexi was crying. “Pops, I’m pregnant. Our baby is due in September.”

  The next day Manny rose early and set out to make the necessary arrangements for Lexi to accompany him. At first contact with the organization that was sponsoring the trip, he was told that all slots had been filled, and unless someone cancelled, Lexi would be unable to join them.

  He left the building disappointed and questioned being so naïve as to offer Lexi something that was not within his power to deliver. At that moment, he turned around and returned to the office he had just left. The same receptionist greeted him. “Did you forget something Dr. Portman?”

  “No, but I need to speak with Joe Bergman again. I’ll be brief.”

  She showed him into the office. “Is there something else I can help you with Dr. Portman?”

  “No, I have just returned to tell you that I won’t be able to go on this tour. I can’t and won’t leave my daughter alone in London. My wife passed away last year while she was in schoo
l, and I left shortly thereafter for Jerusalem. I returned to England for her graduation, and learning that she had not yet secured a position, I wrongfully assumed that she could come on board. She is a registered nurse, and knowing that medical personnel are always needed, I felt it would be good experience for her while she would be helping others, which is all she ever wanted to do since she was a little girl.”

  Joe Bergman was well aware of his efforts on behalf of the children’s program; he did not want to lose Dr. Manny Portman. So close to sailing, there was little chance he could be replaced. “Perhaps I responded too hastily; I should have at least offered to look into the matter. I am offering that now, and although I cannot promise the outcome you wish, I would suggest that you get your daughter’s passport and papers in order just in case.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate anything you can do.” They shook hands and this time, Manny left more upbeat and hopeful.

  He did not mention his conversations with Joe Bergman or that there was a possibility that neither of them would be sailing in two weeks. Instead, he sat down with Lexi and filled out the necessary papers. The next day, they would apply for her passport stressing urgency for immediate issue.

  A young nurse who had been one of the first to sign on was having second thoughts. She had spoken with Joe Bergman twice about dropping out, but each time had reconsidered and remained ready to go. When he rang her up to notify her of the orientation meeting she was required to attend, she began crying and told him once again, she decided to drop out.

  Manny and Lexi attended the orientation. On the way to the meeting, they picked up Lexi’s Passport and Visa. They were set to go.

  In mid-1942, Hospital Ships simply did not exist in the United States. There was an Army-Navy dispute over how many Hospital Ships should be obtained and which service should build and operate them. As a result of these problems, the Joint Chiefs of Staff decided to procure only three Army Hospital Ships.

  The debate continued, and precious time was lost as refitting and commissioning went slow, taking months to receive authorization to partially convert a single ship. The first US Army Hospital Ship only reached British waters a short time before the Normandy Invasion.

  Continuing deliberations, additional requirements, lack of decisions, took their toll, and not much happened. In the spring of 1943, the Surgeon General requested ships for evacuation purposes not to be used as floating hospitals. This resulted in a decision to convert smaller troopships as hospital ships, and to register them under the Geneva Convention, in order to assure safe passage.

  In May 1944, the USAHS Recovery bearing the Geneva hospital ship symbol—a large Red Cross—left Brooklyn, New York, for Southampton, England. The ship carried medical supplies and equipment and medical personnel en route to Palestine, stopping in England to pick up additional doctors and nurses who had signed on for a six-month tour. The ship was due to dock in Haifa in two weeks. From there, a convoy of busses and trucks would transport all personnel and supplies to Jerusalem.

  The ship was equipped with comfortable sleeping quarters; food though basic was plentiful. The doctors socialized by spending time discussing medical issues; the nurses were mostly younger and discussed a myriad of things including boyfriends, life in the States as compared to England, and what they looked forward to when the War was over. None of the nurses were married.

  For the most part, Lexi enjoyed the crossing. The nurses were friendly and meshed together well, expressing where they hoped they would be assigned.

  The USAHS Recovery sailed into Haifa on a beautiful sunny day. Everyone was on deck as the small crowd that had gathered welcomed their arrival. They spent the remainder of the day unwinding. A buffet dinner was set up for two hours allowing individuals to eat when they wished. They stayed the night in Haifa.

  Overnight the supplies had been loaded onto trucks. After breakfast, the busses awaited all personnel and luggage. At 10:00 a.m., the convoy started out for the 151 km journey to Jerusalem.

  The nurses from America were much more outgoing than the British nurses. They were singing and talking most of the trip, but it felt good to be around them. Lexi was quiet and spent much of her time thinking about Jake. Where was he? Was he safe? Why couldn’t he write to her? All questions that remained unanswered.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  The origin of the earliest known civilizations is traced back to the Middle East where the land of Palestine was comprised of a human habitation existing even before Biblical times. Its land area refers to the region that lies between the interior of Syria and the southern Mediterranean coastal plains. In the Old Testament, the land is not called Palestine but Canaan.

  The land of Palestine populated by religiously diverse Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze people for the most part lived peacefully between Biblical times and the modern era. However, with the Zionist movement of the 20th century, a large number of Jews immigrated to Palestine from many parts of Europe increasing the Jewish population drastically, leading to endless conflicts between Arabs and Jews.

  The Palestine Mandate was instituted by the League of Nations entrusting Great Britain with the Mandate to administer non-self-governing territories under a temporary trust that would see to the wellbeing and advancement of its population.

  The British Mandate authorities granted the Jewish and Arab communities the right to run their internal affairs. In August 1929, the Jewish Agency was established with a council, an executive committee, and an administrative committee. Each of these bodies consisted of an equal number of Zionist and non-Zionist Jews.

  The Zionists settling Palestine brought one great asset—organizational acumen. This allowed the movement despite deep ideological differences to achieve a centralized Jewish economic infrastructure in Palestine while promoting religious, educational, cultural, and medical services.

  The Jewish community wanted to help their fellow Jews who were being murdered by the Nazis all over Europe, but strict immigration quotas prevented them from fleeing to Mandatory Palestine, resulting in the Jewish Agency organizing and pursuing illegal immigration from 1939 to 1942.

  This proved to be a very dangerous operation. Many of the ships sank or were caught, and compared with the number of attempts, few ships actually arrived successfully to Mandatory Palestine. Despite the danger and failures, tens of thousands of Jews were saved by illegal immigration. Those who arrived during this time were part of the Aliyah Bet.

  During World War II, Palestinian Jews volunteered in large numbers resulting in 30,000 serving in the British Army, mainly in North Africa. Others were sent to Europe as emissaries to organize local resistance and rescue operations. While 5,000 others in the Jewish Brigade were dispatched to participate in the Italian campaign in late 1944, and later took part in the 1945 spring offensive in Italy against the German forces.

  When the caravan of buses and trucks arrived in Jerusalem, the excitement on the bus carrying the nurses was infectious. None of the young women had been to Palestine before, and they all seemed to be talking at once.

  It had been a long trip, but it was worth it. Lexi’s last minute decision to join Manny had not allowed time for him to talk about what to expect; he spoke mainly about the medical center. She was quite impressed. As she stepped off the bus, she felt a flutter in her belly. Placing a hand over her stomach, she smiled to herself, confident that she had made the right decision.

  They were shown to their temporary housing where they would stay until they were assigned to their posts. The doctors knew where they would be going as most had been on previous tours serving in their specialty. The nurses would be allowed to choose their first option followed by monthly rotations so that they could gain experience serving on different units.

  However, for the first night, everyone dined together, and what a night it was. The food was unbelievable, and the nurses being a little less serious with their singing and dancing man
aged to loosen up the doctors’ moods. By the time everyone returned to their rooms, they were exhausted.

  Lexi fell asleep with her hands resting on her abdomen. She felt her baby move; their was no denying, she was carrying their child who would be born in Eretz Israel (the land of Israel)—a Sabra.

  The Hadassah Medical Center is a medical organization established in 1934. The cornerstone for the Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus was laid that same year, and after five years of construction, the complex opened its doors in 1939 offering schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing, and pharmacology all affiliated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

  Its declared mission: to extend a hand to all, without regard for race, religion, or ethnic origin.

  Lexi was assigned to the Pediatric Ward of the hospital. Her Nursing Supervisor was Bella Kahn. At their very first meeting on her very first day as she showed her around the ward, she asked, “When is your baby due?”

  Lexi could not believe it. “I’m due the end of September.”

  “Well then, maybe we can keep you here in Pediatrics until you have the baby. At that time, if you wish to move to another unit, we can certainly see to that. In the meantime, I will introduce you to Dr. Henry Kahn who happens to be my husband, and who will take very good care of you and deliver your baby.”

  Everyone at the hospital was so nice. They were efficient in every way, and although she had come to serve, they seemed to be serving and helping her. She told Bella about Jake, and that her father was Dr. Manny Portman. Bella had met him briefly, but never worked with him. She thoroughly understood that he could not leave her in London.

  Her father was based in Hebron 29 km away at the Medical Organization’s infirmary—the Beit Hadassah Clinic. Although he spent a good deal of time in Hebron, he often visited their widespread system of clinics in Jewish centers and hospitals in the principle towns throughout Palestine. Therefore, they didn’t see one another every day.