Mahal: North American Military Fighters in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence

Drawing from a 1992 questionnaire, as well as supplementary documents and research reports, this study uses a sociological lens to explicate the volunteers’ motives, backgrounds, and lasting impressions which for many was a transformative experience.

This deeply researched volume uncovers the untold story of the North American men and women who joined Israel’s 1948 fight for independence. Known as Mahal (Volunteers from Abroad), these individuals risked their lives, citizenships, and futures to serve in Aliyah Bet and what became the Israel Defense Forces—the army, navy, and air force. Drawing from a 1992 questionnaire, as well as supplementary documents and research reports, this study uses a sociological lens to explicate the volunteers’ motives, backgrounds, and lasting impressions which for many was a transformative experience. From covert operations in the Mediterranean to makeshift airfields around Tel Aviv, these volunteers defied U.S. embargoes, navigated the tensions of dual loyalties, and helped shape a nation in its most vulnerable hour. It is a perfect read for historians, scholars, and students of Jewish studies and diaspora identities.