‘The story of Tel Hai is my life’s mission,” said Yair Belachovsky, chairperson and founder of Tel Hai Trustees, an organization perpetuating the heritage of Tel Hai for the Jewish people. “Tel Hai is part of the consensus of Israel. It belongs to everyone.”
Tel Hai’s history and the bravery of its defenders have endured in the national consciousness of the State of Israel for over 100 years. On March 1, 1920, a Shi’ite Arab militia, accompanied by Bedouin from a nearby village, entered the Jewish agricultural farm of Tel Hai in the Galilee. A battle broke out between the Arabs and the Jewish residents, in which eight Jews and five Arabs were killed.
Joseph Trumpeldor, the commander of the Jewish defenders of Tel Hai, was shot and died in the course of his evacuation to Kfar Giladi that evening. Shortly before he died, Trumpeldor said the words that have echoed throughout Jewish history: “It is good to die for our country.”
For the 42-year-old Belachovsky, the Battle of Tel Hai resonates with both national and personal meaning. His grandfather, then 19-year-old Zalman Belachovsky, was the youngest defender of Tel Hai and served as the medic who bandaged Trumpeldor’s wounds.
At the upcoming Jerusalem Post Conference in New York on June 1, Belachovsky will introduce The Roaring Lion, a book that tells the inspirational story of Tel Hai and brings it to English-speaking readers worldwide.
“The story of Tel Hai is a national story,” he notes. “Every national story has a familial and personal component. For my father and me, the personal story was the basis. We took the personal story and expanded it to a national and international story.”
Evolution of a book
The origins of the book date back more than 15 years, when Michael Belachovsky, Yair’s father, gathered materials, testimonies, and stories about his father and Tel Hai, and created a booklet for the family.
Over time, it became clear that the story of Tel Hai was far more than a personal family account; it was a historical and national asset. Michael Belachovsky approached author and scholar Mordechai Naor to transform the booklet into a full-fledged book. The first edition was published more than a decade ago.
Later, as part of the Tel Hai Trustees’ activities to promote the legacy – and in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the battle in 2020 – Yair Belachovsky led an initiative to expand the book into a broader, more significant work.
In 2023, a new edition was published, receiving acclaim as one of the most comprehensive works ever written about Tel Hai. Upon its release, it was decided to publish it in English under the title The Roaring Lion, to make the story accessible to the Jewish Diaspora and the wider world – an objective that has gained renewed urgency in light of contemporary events.
“The Roaring Lion is not a classic history book that tells a linear story,” said Belachovsky. “It is a dynamic book that covers different subjects, weaving together a variety of themes. For example, the book includes a chapter on the legacy of the Battle of Tel Hai, a segment examining what Trumpeldor actually said, and a chapter exploring the Jewish dimensions of Tel Hai. The story of Tel Hai is the spirit of the Jewish people.”
Belachovsky compares the heroism of the Tel Hai generation to that of today’s heroes. Trumpeldor lost his left arm after it was shattered by a shell in 1904 during the Russo-Japanese War, when he was fighting for the Russian Army.
“That was his symbol. He had one arm. Today, there are many Tumpeldors among us,” he added, referring to the many wounded soldiers from the Israel-Hamas War. “On the one hand, it is painful to see, but on the other hand, it is amazing that the young generation continues to perpetuate the values of the country. We have an amazing generation.”
Expanding Tel Hai’s message
The release of the English-language version of The Roaring Lion is intended to accomplish two things, he said.
“First, I hope that it will encourage aliyah. The State of Israel needs one million olim. Second, the story of Tel Hai tells the story of the revival of Israel. Jewish communities are experiencing antisemitism, and they need to understand that there is a home for the Jews in Israel.”
Belachovsky said that the lessons of Tel Hai are equally valuable to Israelis.
“Tel Hai teaches us that one can serve the greater good. The individual has the right to build their own life, but everyone has a responsibility to society and to something larger. Trumpeldor understood this, and so did my grandfather.
“Tel Hai also teaches us that we need to be united. The fighters at Tel Hai were united and worked together. If we are not united, we will not succeed.”
As head of the Tel Hai Trustees, Belachovsky is working to upgrade the Tel Hai memorial and enhance its standing. In addition to this role, he is also the chairman and founder of Israel Revival, an organization that works to elevate the discourse in Israeli society.
“After I completed my military reserve duty during the war, I decided that I needed to expand the idea of Tel Hai to a wider audience, so I established Israel Revival. The organization is active on several different fronts and holds monthly gatherings,” he said.
Belachovsky said that the work of both foundations complements each other.
“As head of Tel Hai Trustees, I want to ensure that the story of Tel Hai endures, and that its values remain central to Israeli society and the Jewish people. Through my activities with Israel Revival, I want to advance the idea that the story of Tel Hai, with its lessons of unity and serving the greater good, becomes the basis for the revival of Israel,” he said.
Were Trumpeldor alive today, what would he think of the State of Israel and its current position in the world? Without missing a beat, Belachovsky replied, “He would say, ‘It is good to live for our country.’”
This article was written in cooperation with Tel Hai Trustees.