Learning with the National Library of Israel

Six Day War Resource Pack

Suggested Answers

Dancing at the Western Wall, 1967

Observations​

• Who is in the picture?

  • IDF reserve duty soldiers can be seen in the photograph.

• What are they holding?

  • Some of them are holding guns, since they had just participated in the fighting.

• What are they doing?

  • They are celebrating the capture of the Kotel by dancing and clapping.

• What is the wall in the background?

  • This is the Kotel, a segment of the western wall of the Second Temple.

• How do you think they are feeling?

  • From the smiles on their faces and the general sense of excitement, they seem to be feeling very happy.

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Reading Between the Lines

• Why do you think all of the soldiers look happy?

  • The soldiers are celebrating the fact the Old City and the Kotel have been captured by the IDF, which marked a significant point in modern Jewish history.

• When do you think this photograph was taken? What was the occasion?

  • The photograph was taken just after the capture of the Old City and the Kotel on June 7, 1967.

• Why were the soldiers rejoicing next to the Kotel?

  •  The soldiers were rejoicing next to the Kotel as it is traditionally seen as the most holy place in Judaism, and access had been prohibited to Israelis since the establishment of the State.

• Why were all the Jews in Israel and in the Jewish world so moved when they heard that the Israeli army had captured the Kotel?

  • The capturing of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Kotel symbolized an end to 2,000 years of exile from the location of the Temple.

• Despite the great happiness evident in this picture, many people also felt great sadness at that time. Why do you think this was the case?

  • There was sadness at the time because many soldiers had lost their lives during the Six Day War.

• What is the significance of the Kotel to the Jewish people?

  • The Kotel is traditionally seen as part of the expanded outer wall of the Second Temple built by Herod. It is considered holy due to it connection to the Temple Mount. 

• Which other religions consider this part of Jerusalem to be holy?

  • Islam sees the site as its third holiest site due to the belief that the prophet Mohammed tied his miraculous steed, Buraq, here before he ascended to heaven. For Christians, this is an ancient religious site due to the various events in the life of Jesus that took place here.

• The Kotel is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray.
  Is it actually the most sacred place for the Jewish people?
  If not, why don't Jews pray at this place?

  • The Temple Mount is seen as the most sacred place in Jewish tradition as it is here where Abraham is thought to have offered up Isaac in sacrifice and where the main Temple stood. Most Jews do not pray on the Temple Mount due to religious and political restrictions, and the Kotel is seen as most sacred alternative.

• What are the Israeli government's responsibilities towards the other religions with regards to Jerusalem and the area of the Kotel?
  What is the status of Jerusalem today with regards to the other religions?

  • Israel has jurisdiction and administration over East Jerusalem, while there is freedom of access to the Temple Mount for people of all religions. The site is within the area controlled by the State of Israel with administration remaining in the hands of the Islamic religious trust known as the Waqf. As a security measure, the Israeli government is currently enforcing a ban on non-Muslim prayer on the site, and any non-Muslims observed praying on the site are liable to expulsion by the police.

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Simchat Torah Flag, 1967

Observations

• What is this?

  • This is a photograph of a Simchat Torah flag.

• What text is printed at the bottom? What does it mean?

  • The text that is printed at the bottom of the flag is "Sisu Ve’Simchu Be’Simchat Torah" which means "Let us all rejoice in the joy of Torah."

• Who are the figures printed on the flag?

  • The figures are Moshe Dayan, the minister of defence, Yitzhak Rabin, the IDF chief of staff, and  Ariel Sharon, Haim Bar Lev, and Motti Hod, senior IDF officers.

• In the centre of the flag is a large symbol of a sword surrounded by olive leaves. This is the symbol of which Israeli organisation?

  • The sword surrounded by olive leaves is the symbol of the IDF.

• What other images appear on the flag?

  • Other images that appear on the flag are the Kotel, the walls of the Old City, and soldiers wearing berets and a rabbi a man wrapped in a talit carrying Torah scrolls. There is also a plane formation in the shape of a Star of David and the symbol of the Tank Corps.

• How is Jerusalem represented on this flag?

  • Jerusalem is represented with images of the Kotel and the walls of the Old City.

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Reading Between the Lines

• When do you think this flag was made? How did you come to this conclusion?

  • This flag was made for the festival of Simchat Torah following the Six Day War in 1967. This is evident because the flag is decorated with themes from the 1967 War.

• What was the aim of printing the flag?

  • The flag was designed with these themes in order to celebrate the victory of the war and, possibly, to make a religious connection to the victory.

• Why do you think these figures were depicted in the flag?

  • Moshe Dayan, Yitzhak Rabin, Haim Bar Lev, Ariel Sharon and Motti Hod appear on the flag because they were the keys figures in the military victory.

• What other symbols appear on the flag? What is the meaning of these symbols?

  • The symbols are all relevant to the Six Day War and the city of Jerusalem. The Kotel is the symbol of the ancient temple that stood in Jerusalem. The walls of the Old City represent the city of Jerusalem, which was located until 1860 inside these walls. The plane formation is in the shape of the Star of David – the modern symbol of Israel and the Jewish people.  The tank, surrounded by a wreath, symbolises the IDF Tank Corps whose role was central to the victory.

• How do those symbols characterise the achievements of the Six Day War in the eyes of Israelis?

  • Together these symbols all represent victory in the 1967 War.

• Why do you think the figures are illustrated on the olive leaves rather than the sword?

  • The figures are illustrated on the olive leaves rather than the sword perhaps as a way of conveying the feeling that the war was waged in order to achieve peace.

• The walls of the Old City are illustrated on the flag.  What did Israel achieve during the war and why are the walls, in particular, illustrated on the flag?

  • The walls of the Old City appear on the flag probably because for the first time in 2,000 years, the Jewish people gained control of the Old City and the area where the Temple was allegedly situated.

• The symbol of the Tank Corps and planes in a Star of David formation are illustrated on the flag. Why do you think these designs were included in the flag? What was the role of the Tank Corps and Air Force in the war?

  • These designs were included due to the central role of the Tank Corps and the Air Force in the victory. Against all odds, the Tank Corps achieved successes in Sinai, the Jordan Valley, and the Golan Heights. The Air Force managed to destroy the Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian air forces while still on the ground before the war had even really begun. 

• Why do you think that the soldiers in uniform were chosen to carry the Torah scrolls on the flag?

  • Soldiers in uniform were depicted carrying the Torah scrolls as a token of respect to the soldiers who captured the Old City of Jerusalem and the Kotel.

• The soldiers on the flag are wearing  red berets.
  Which IDF unit wear this colour beret? Why do you think this unit is depicted?

  • Red berets are part of the uniform of the paratroopers. The paratroopers were the soldiers who captured Jerusalem and the Kotel.

• Why do you think the creators of the flag chose the Six Day War as its theme? What does the flag tell us about the general atmosphere in Israel at the end of the war?

  • The general atmosphere in Israel at the end of the war was one of great joy and happiness. The flag was created for children and shows that even the children were part of the festive feeling.

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Jerusalem of Gold (Yerushalayim Shel Zahav), 1967

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Observations

• What is this song?
  Who wrote it?

  • The song is "Yerushalyim Shel Zahav" (Jerusalem of Gold), and it was written by the Israeli songwriter Naomi Shemer.

• Which places in Israel are mentioned in the song?

  • The song mentions Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and Jericho.

• Which places in Jerusalem are mentioned in the song?

  • The song mentions the Temple Mount and the Old City.

• Which of the five senses are referred to in the song?

  • The song refers to smell, sight, and hearing.

• In verse two, where do people not go?

  • The second verse describes people not going to the Temple or the Dead Sea.

• How is the first line of verse two different from the first line of verse four?

  • These first lines describe two opposite situations. At the beginning of the song, Shemer describes the situation in which Jews cannot visit the Temple Mount or the Old City of Jerusalem. The last verse describes the situation after the reunification of the city when Jews could once again visit these places.

 

Reading Between the Lines

• When was the song first written?

  • The song was written for Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day) in 1967, less than a month before the Six Day War.

• What was the situation in Jerusalem at the time?

  • From 1948-1967, Israel controlled West Jerusalem while the Jordanians controlled East Jerusalem including the Old City and the Kotel.

• In verse two of the song, why don't people go to the Temple Mount in the Old City?

  • Jews did not go to the Old City before the Six Day War because the Jordanians controlled these areas and prevented Jewish access.

• What happened on June 7, 1967, three weeks after the song was published?

  • The Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall were captured by the IDF on June 7, 1967, and as a result of this, Jews were once again allowed to visit the Old City.

• Naomi Shemer changed the song and added the fourth verse.
  Why did she do this?

  • Less than a month after the song was first performed, the description of a divided Jerusalem was no longer relevant. Since the city was now reunified, it was necessary to change the song to match the new reality.

• Why have the people returned to the marketplace in verse four?
  What enabled this return?

  • People returned to the marketplace because Israel now controlled the area, and Jews could once again return to the market in the Old City.

 

Yitzhak Rabin, 1967

Observations

• Who is this?

  • This is Yitzhak Rabin  in 1967 when he was the IDF chief of staff.

• What is he wearing?

  • He had the rank of lieutenant general at the time and is wearing his IDF uniform.

• What is on his clothes?

  • His army uniform includes medals and various insignia relating to his different roles and achievements in the army.

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Reading Between the Lines

• When was this picture taken?

  • Based on the insignia on his uniform, Yitzhak Rabin was lieutenant general when the photograph was taken. It is therefore clear that the photograph was taken between 1964-1968 when Rabin was chief of staff.

• What was Rabin's role in the Six Day War?
  What did he do in that role?

  • Rabin was the chief of staff during the Six Day War. He was therefore the leading commander and led the army to victory in the Six Day War.

• Yitzhak Rabin was the chief of staff when the IDF captured the Kotel.
  Why was the capture of the Kotel such an important moment?

  • It was the first time in 2,000 years that Jews had control over the site of the Temple.

• Why was the Six Day War a significant point in Israeli history?

  • In the Six Day War Israel managed to defeat the armies of three of the  neighbouring countries which had threatened its existence.
    The IDF managed to capture the Golan Heights, which put a stop to Syrian firing onto Israeli settlements below. Israel also recaptured the Old City and the Kotel. It  is important to note that the Six Day War's military achievements resulted in a political situation that effects the Middle East till this day.

• What were Rabin's  achievements?

  • As prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin's achievements were, amongst others, the signing of peace accords with the Palestinians and with Jordan and the rescue of the hijacked Jews from Entebbe

• What was the atmosphere in Israel that led up to Rabin's assassination in 1995?

  • Many right-wing supporters did not approve of Rabin's peace initiatives. Right-wing politicians stoked up anti-Rabin feelings which caused a great divide between right- and left-wing supporters. There were various anti-Rabin and anti-Oslo rallies which fuelled a polarised atmosphere.

• What famous song was Rabin singing at the rally just before his assassination? Why is it significant?

  • Yitzhak Rabin was singing "Shir LaShalom" (Song of Peace) alongside his partner in peace, Shimon Peres, and the singer Miri Aloni. This song had long been the unofficial anthem of the peace movement and symbolised Rabin's aspiration to provide peace in the region.

• What lessons should have been learned since Rabin's assassination?

  • Answers could include: tolerance on both sides of the political divide; democratic values, the dangers of strong political rhetoric and extremism of any kind.

 

Tank Manoeuvers in the Six Day War, Golan Heights, 1967

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Observations

• What is the purpose of the map?

  • The purpose of the map is to show the manoeuvres of the IDF Tank Corps on the Golan Heights during the Six Day War.

• What area is shown in the map?

  • The area shown is the Golan Heights in the north-east of Israel.

• Which four countries can you see on the map?

  • The four countries are Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

• Which two bodies of water can you see on the map?

  • The two bodies of water are the Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) and the Jordan River.

• Where are the black arrows pointing to?

  • Most of the arrows on the map are pointing towards the Golan Heights or to Syria.

• When was this map drawn?

  • This map was drawn in 1967.

 

Reading Between the lines

• What do the black lines on the map symbolise?

  • The black lines symbolise the direction in which the IDF tanks moved on the Golan Heights during the Six Day War.

• Why did Israel attack the Syrian positions in the Golan Heights during the Six Day War?

  • Israel attacked the Syrian positions in the Golan Heights because the Syrian troops had, for several years,  been firing missiles onto Israel settlements at the base of the Golan Heights around the Kinneret.

• Who controlled the Golan Heights at the time the map was created?

  • Syria controlled the Golan Heights at the time the map was created

• What was the outcome of the battle on the Golan Heights in the Six Day War?

  • After the Six Day War, the Golan Heights was controlled by Israel.

• Were other battles fought in the area in the following years?

  • The Yom Kippur War in 1973 was also fought in the Golan Heights.

• What is the situation in the Golan today?

  • Today, two-thirds of the Golan Height are controlled and administered by Israel. The remaining third is ruled by Syria.

• Where is the Golan Heights in Israel and why is the area so important for Israel's security?

  • The Golan Heights are situated in the north-east of Israel. Without Israeli control of the area, Syria would be able to control, from a height, all access to northern Israel and much of its water supply.

• How many people live on the Golan Heights?

  • About 40,000 people live on the Golan Heights: about 20,000 Jewish Israelis and about 20,000 Druze residents.

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Settlement Immediately, 1969​

Observations

• Which countries can be seen on this map?

  • Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt (the Sinai desert) can be seen on this map.

• Which seas can be seen on the map?

  • The Mediterranean Sea, the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), the Dead Sea and the Red Sea can be seen on this map.

• What is written on the map?

  • This poster includes the words: "Hitnachalut Le’alter" meaning "Settlement Immediately" and "Yom Haatzmaut 5729" meaning "Independence Day 1969."

• Where are these words written?

  • The words are written over the map of the Greater Land of Israel.

• When was this poster published?

  • It was published in 1969.

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Reading Between the Lines

• Why do you think that the words are placed over the entire map of Israel?
  What is the political message?

  • The words are placed over the map of Greater Israel to emphasise the  political message that Jews should establish settlements over the entire historical Land of Israel.

• Why do you think that the traditional map lines of Judea and Samaria are missing from this map?

  • The map lines are missing in order to stress the irrelevance of the international borders marking out the West Bank, Gaza, the Sinai desert, and the Golan Heights.

• What is the other name used for Judea and Samaria? Why is the area called by two different names?

  • Judea and Samaria are also called the West Bank. The name Judea and Samaria originates from the Book of Prophets and tends to be used by right-wing supporters who want to emphasise the historical connection to the area. The West Bank, namely the West Bank of the Jordan River, is the term used by most of the English-speaking world. This area is also commonly referred to in Israel as the "territories".

• Besides the Movement for Greater Israel, which other political movements began after the Six Day War?
  What was their agenda?

  • The Gush Emunim movement was also established after the Six Day War with the aim of ensuring settlement in the Greater Land of Israel for both ideological and strategic purposes.

• What is Judaism's historical connection to Judea and Samaria?

  • According to the Bible, Judea is the area where the ancient Jewish Kingdom of Judea was situated, while Samaria is the area where the ancient Kingdom of Israel was situated.

• What happened to the people who lived in this area after the war?

  • Over 350,000 Palestinians were forced to leave the area, most ending up in Jordan, but many also in Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon.

• Who lives in this area today?
  Who controls the area? Is this problematic? Explain your answer.

  • Both Israelis and Palestinians live in the area today. The area is split into three sections – Areas A, B, and C – with the security and administration for those areas divided between the Israeli and Palestinian authorities.

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Kids! Support the IDF with a Donation! 1967

Observations

• What is this resource?

  • It is a letter from an Israeli organisation to Israeli children, offering them the opportunity to buy a certificate whose proceeds will go towards helping support the IDF.

• Describe the picture.
  What are the children holding?
  How are the children dressed?

  • There are four children. Two who seem to be boys are wearing the classic hat, the kovah tembel, worn by many Israelis in the 1960s and 1970s. The children are holding a tank above their heads. The tank has the Star of David on its side and an Israeli flag on the top.

• Who was the letter directed at?

  • The letter is directed at the schoolchildren of Israel.

• When was it published?

  • The letter was published just after the end of the Six Day War in 1967.

• What was the letter asking for?

  • The letter was asking children to buy a security certificate costing 20 Lira, the currency used at the time, to help support the IDF which needed funds after the war.

 

Reading Between the Lines

• Why are the children holding a tank?
  What message does the image convey?

  • They are holding the tank to symbolise their support for the IDF which they can show by making a  donation.

• What are the children promised in return for their money?

  • The children are promised a certificate thanking them for their contribution.

• What was the currency in Israel at that time?

  • The currency in Israel from 1952-1980 was the lira.

• What do you think was the role of the "Public Office for Ongoing Security"?

  • One of their roles seems to have been encouraging people to support the army's security effort, in this case through donations.

• Why did the government need the money?

  • The government  needed the money as the Six Day War had been very costly and extra funds were needed to support ongoing security efforts.

 

 

Dayenu – Jewish History Chart, 1967

Observations

• What is this?

  • This is a cartoon that appeared in The Sentinel, a Jewish newspaper printed in Chicago,  on June 15, 1967, a few days after the Six Day War.

• Describe what you see.

  • There are two boys, wearing yarmulkes, staring at a Jewish history chart. On the left of the chart is a map of Israel. The chart depicts significant events in Jewish history and their dates. On the right of the chart is a calendar of 1988, twenty-one years in the future.

• Which events are noted in the chart?

  • The following events are noted: the destruction of the First Temple, the Babylonian Exile, the destruction of the Second Temple, the Spanish Inquisition, the Chmielmicki Massacres, the Kiev Pogroms, the rise of Hitler, the crisis with Nasser (president of Egypt in 1967).

• Which country is shown in the map?

  • It is a map of Israel.

• From which year is the calendar on the wall?

  • The calendar is from 1988.

• Describe the two boys that you see in the cartoon.

  • The two boys are both wearing yarmulkes, suggesting that they are Jewish, maybe religious.

• Which year was this resource published?

  • The cartoon was published in 1967.

 

Reading Between the Lines

• Which significant event ended five days before the publication of the cartoon?

  • The Six Day War ended on June 10, five days before the publication of the cartoon.

• How was the Six Day War named in the poster?

• Explain the name.

  • The Six Day War is named the "Nasserism Crisis." It seems that its more well-known name had not yet been adopted, and instead it was called this  after President Nasser of Egypt. The name reflects the fact that it was Nasser who had led Egypt in a series of aggressive actions against Israel, which had led to the outbreak of the war, later to be known as the Six Day War.

• What is the message of the cartoon?

  • The message of the cartoon seems to be that throughout history, and even today and probably in the future, the Jewish people have faced many challenges but have always manage to overcome them and survive.

• What kinds of events are mentioned on the Jewish history chart?

• Are they happy, sad or both?
  Why do you think they are mentioned on the chart?

  • All of the events are sad examples of other people trying to destroy the Jewish people.They are mentioned in order to show that despite these attempts, the Jewish people have nonetheless always managed to survive.

• Why is there a map of Israel in the cartoon?

  • The map of Israel is depicted in the cartoon because it is symbolic of the Jewish people and their homeland.

• Why is there a calendar from the future date of 1988 in the cartoon?

  • The cartoonist was possibly imagining that in the year 1988, when two Jewish boys will look at a Jewish history chart, they will see the current war of 1967 as another example of the Jewish people surviving despite attempts to destroy them. There is also a suggestion that the chart will include other events that will take place in the intervening years.

• Why was there a feeling of euphoria among Jewish communities at the time?

  • Before the war many people believed that Israel would not survive, and the sense of euphoria was due to the pride that Israel had not only survived but had become stronger, by extending its borders, capturing Jewish holy sites, and providing a general sense of security to its citizens and the Jewish people worldwide.

• Why do you think that the boys in the cartoon are wearing yarmulkes?

  • The boys are wearing yarmulkes in the cartoon to show that they are Jewish and connected to Jewish tradition.

• What was The Sentinel?

  • The Sentinel was the premier Jewish weekly newspaper in Chicago published from 1911 to 1996. The Sentinel reflected the changing Chicago Jewish community and covered both local issues and national and international Jewish news.

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