Levi, Miriam

Miriam, daughter of Mazal and Mikhluf Levi, was born on March 29, 1929, in Jerusalem. She studied at the girls’ school and excelled in knitting, embroidery and craftsmanship. But after finishing sixth grade she was forced to stop her studies and go out to work to help her parents. At the outbreak of the War of Independence, she volunteered to work as a paramedic and went to the excavations and to the outpost with the rifle in her hand. Miriam completed a first-aid course and during her spare time she would “bandage” her little sister or her mother to practice her work. On one of the most difficult days of shelling in Jerusalem on 5 June 1948, she returned from work, changed her clothes into a white coat and was about to leave for the hospital. Her mother begged her to wait a while, because shells were flying everywhere. “I’m armored,” replied Miriam. “Here’s my white robe and the red-and-white shield on my arm – it’s my armor.” There was a tremendous explosion as she went out into the street with a shell of shrapnel hitting her head. She was brought to the same hospital where she wanted to go to help, and 24 hours later, on the 28th of Iyar 5708 (June 6, 1948), she died. She was buried in Sheik-Bader Aleph. On the 28th of Elul 5710 (10.9.1950) she was sent to eternal rest in the military cemetery at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.