Nehardea Magazine

Journal of the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center
No.13, Summer 2001

IN MEMORIAM

ELIYAHU HILLEL

On the 2nd of Shevat (January 8, 2000), Eliyahu Hillel passed away at the age of 85.

Those passing by his grave in the Yarkon Cemetery might not know that there lies a precious man, a man of great deeds, a man who loved his fellow men and who was loved in return. They couldn't have known that his was a fascinating life story - the story of a pioneer whose existence symbolized the beginnings of the redemption of ancient Babylonian Jewry, its immigration to the Land of Israel, and becoming involved in the building of it.

Eliyahu was one of the founders of the Ahiever group in Baghdad and a key activist in it at the end of the 20's and the beginning of the 30's. Together with friends, most of them youths at the Jewish school "Shammash" he established a dynamic Zionist group which dedicated itself to reading Hebrew books, speaking Hebrew, and promoting a strong connection with the Jewish community in the Land of Israel.

Eliyahu, the son of a well-to-do business family, decided that he wanted to immigrate to the Eretz Yisrael and to realize the ideal he had believed in and exhorted others to follow. This was a true transformation in the Hillel family. His five older brothers had already left Iraq, not for the Land of Israel but rather for countries all over the world, where they conducted extensive businesses. This was the role designated for Eliyahu when he finished school - to take his place in the family business. But he stood his ground: neither business, nor commerce. Instead - the Land of Israel and the studying of agriculture at the Mikveh Israel Agricultural School, as preparation for realizing the dream of being a pioneer farmer in Eretz Yisrael. He was 18 years old when he left his parents' warm, comfortable home to cope with the new and unfamiliar reality of dormitory life in an agriculture school.

Eliyahu's aliyah symbolized a turning point in the life of the entire family and perhaps even contributed to it. Except for those who had already struck roots in the various foreign countries around the world where they were living, the entire family immigrated to Israel, one after another, became deeply involved in the life of the country, and came to be an address for many of the Iraqi Jews who later settled in Israel and sought out good advice and guidance in becoming successfully absorbed in the country.

Eliyahu's marriage to Rene, of the Tweina family, and the outbreak of the Second World War, which severely hurt the citrus export industry (one of the major agricultural crops at that time), put an end to Eliyahu's dream of agricultural life.

He built his house in North Tel-Aviv, a place many remember as an open house known for its hospitality.

Another chapter in my brother Eliyahu's life began when I was recruited into the Mossad for Aliyah Bet and sent on missions to Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt. It was clear that Eliyahu was the only one in the family to whom I confided the secret of my leaving on confidential missions, and his infinite love and concern always accompanied me on those missions for many years. One of the veteran members of the Aliyah Bet group said to me on the day of Eliyahu's funeral: "You thought it was only you who was recruited into the Mossad for Aliyah Bet, Eliyahu no less, was also recruited. His office in Wesco (Opposite the old central bus station in Tel-Aviv) served us as the Mossad for Aliyah Bet's second office that was always at our disposal, day and night". And that was so, not just his office but also the home of Eliyahu and Rene became the heven of the members of the Aliyah Bet group. Many emissaries, when they came to Israel, were hosted for days at their home on Ben Yehuda street, 121. At that time, it was not customary for emissaries who came to Israel to stay at hotels; they were glad to sleep on rugs in Eliyahu's house and to be hosted at his generous table, abundant with the good food prepared by his wife Rene. Many immigrants who came to Israel also knew their address, found their way to it, and were given help. Testimony of that may be found by the many people who attended his funeral or who came to comfort the family during the shiva'a period.

Eliyahu left a wife and three loving sons. Two of them live in Canada, but the youngest son, Mickey, lives in Israel and is raising his family here. The three children of Mickey and his wife Orli, Eliyahu's grandchildren, were a source of joy and delight to Eliyahu in his last years. With the good feeling that his children, grandchildren, relatives and friends loved him deeply, he departed this world. For us, his family, his wife, his children, his brother and sisters it is hard to say goodbye. The pain is deep, the loss is great.

May his memory be blessed.
Shlomo Hillel

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IN MEMORIAM
ELIYAHU HILLEL
On the 2nd of Shevat (January 8, 2000), Eliyahu Hillel passed away at the age of 85. Those passing by his grave in the Yarkon Cemetery might not know that there lies a precious man, a man of great deeds, a man who loved his fellow men and who was loved in return. They couldn't have known that his was a fascinating life story - the story of a pioneer whose existence symbolized the beginnings of the redemption of ancient Babylonian Jewry, its immigration to the Land of Israel, and becoming involved in the building of it. Eliyahu was one of the founders of the Ahiever group in Baghdad and a key activist in it at the end of the 20's and the beginning of the 30's. Together with friends, most of them youths at the Jewish school "Shammash" he established a dynamic Zionist group which dedicated itself to reading Hebrew books, speaking Hebrew, and promoting a strong connection with the Jewish community in the Land of Israel. Eliyahu, the son of a well-to-do business family, decided that he wanted to immigrate to the Eretz Yisrael and to realize the ideal he had believed in and exhorted others to follow. This was a true transformation in the Hillel family. His five older brothers had already left Iraq, not for the Land of Israel but rather for countries all over the world, where they conducted extensive businesses. This was the role designated for Eliyahu when he finished school - to take his place in the family business. But he stood his ground: neither business, nor commerce. Instead - the Land of Israel and the studying of agriculture at the Mikveh Israel Agricultural School, as preparation for realizing the dream of being a pioneer farmer in Eretz Yisrael. He was 18 years old when he left his parents' warm, comfortable home to cope with the new and unfamiliar reality of dormitory life in an agriculture school. Eliyahu's aliyah symbolized a turning point in the life of the entire family and perhaps even contributed to it. Except for those who had already struck roots in the various foreign countries around the world where they were living, the entire family immigrated to Israel, one after another, became deeply involved in the life of the country, and came to be an address for many of the Iraqi Jews who later settled in Israel and sought out good advice and guidance in becoming successfully absorbed in the country. Eliyahu's marriage to Rene, of the Tweina family, and the outbreak of the Second World War, which severely hurt the citrus export industry (one of the major agricultural crops at that time), put an end to Eliyahu's dream of agricultural life. He built his house in North Tel-Aviv, a place many remember as an open house known for its hospitality. Another chapter in my brother Eliyahu's life began when I was recruited into the Mossad for Aliyah Bet and sent on missions to Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt. It was clear that Eliyahu was the only one in the family to whom I confided the secret of my leaving on confidential missions, and his infinite love and concern always accompanied me on those missions for many years. One of the veteran members of the Aliyah Bet group said to me on the day of Eliyahu's funeral: "You thought it was only you who was recruited into the Mossad for Aliyah Bet, Eliyahu no less, was also recruited. His office in Wesco (Opposite the old central bus station in Tel-Aviv) served us as the Mossad for Aliyah Bet's second office that was always at our disposal, day and night". And that was so, not just his office but also the home of Eliyahu and Rene became the heven of the members of the Aliyah Bet group. Many emissaries, when they came to Israel, were hosted for days at their home on Ben Yehuda street, 121. At that time, it was not customary for emissaries who came to Israel to stay at hotels; they were glad to sleep on rugs in Eliyahu's house and to be hosted at his generous table, abundant with the good food prepared by his wife Rene. Many immigrants who came to Israel also knew their address, found their way to it, and were given help. Testimony of that may be found by the many people who attended his funeral or who came to comfort the family during the shiva'a period. Eliyahu left a wife and three loving sons. Two of them live in Canada, but the youngest son, Mickey, lives in Israel and is raising his family here. The three children of Mickey and his wife Orli, Eliyahu's grandchildren, were a source of joy and delight to Eliyahu in his last years. With the good feeling that his children, grandchildren, relatives and friends loved him deeply, he departed this world. For us, his family, his wife, his children, his brother and sisters it is hard to say goodbye. The pain is deep, the loss is great. May his memory be blessed. Shlomo Hillel
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