A Fighting Press: Reflections of Israel's War of Independence in Children's Newspapers

Abstract

The children's press during Israel's War of Independence sheds light on the way the home front dealt with a prolonged war in which there was no clear distinction between front and rear. The article surveys five newspapers, representing the gamut of political and ideological views in Israeli society at the time. Viewing themselves as nurturing the new generation of Hebrew readers in terms of loyalty toward homeland and the Zionist vision, these newspapers sought to instruct children in how they could take part in the heroic struggle. They provided little refuge from the wartime atmosphere, filling their pages with descriptions, information, and stories centering on the events of the war and the bravery of the fighters. The children's own contributions, their reports of their efforts to participate in the war effort and their expressions of sympathy and admiration for the fighting forces, reveal that the message of obedience, self-discipline, and patriotic commitment was, for the most part, well internalized.