Introduction to the book 

I started writing this diary some 15 years ago as a project for an English course. During the course I improved constantly my command of the language. The more I wrote, the more enthusiastic I grew and the more addicted to it I became.  It often happened that I woke up at night and continued writing. My wife scolded me, “You fool, what are you writing in the middle of the night? Go back to sleep and continue on tomorrow”  “I am sorry, I must put things down on paper now, otherwise they’ll flee from my memory”. As I wrote I saw myself as a child in my parent’s home with my sister, as a pupil at the school, remembering the faces and even the names of my schoolmates and teachers.. I lived again the thrilling experiences with the Scouts, the horrors of the years of the War, the joys and frustrations of Liberation by the Russian Red Army. I recalled how I meet my family whom I had not known anything throughout the War and thought they were dead. I recalled my acquaintance with the Zionist Movement, leaving my family and coming to Israel (Palestine) illegally on our way to Cyprus, where we spent a year of forced vacation.  I remembered my life in the kibbutz in Israel, in the Army and finally my leaving the kibbutz and founding a family of my own in Beer-Sheva.
            When I finished writing, I had put the book aside for further study and consideration. In the meantime, having gained a remarkable advancement with the effort of writing my Diary, I had begun to read English literature from eminent authors and also from best seller titled once. The more I proceeded reading their works, the more I became convinced that my book was not worth publishing, and maybe it will remain only as a family book of remembrance.
Recently a friend of mine asked if I had finished the book that I was writing. I told him that after having read a couple of good books from famous writers, I got discouraged. “Nonsense” he cried “If so, no one will ever write a book, paint a picture, compose a piece of music, or will do anything worthwhile fearing his work will be automatically compared with the creations of great artists. Eventually every book will find its way to its kind of readers. Those who favor heavy classics probably would not find interest reading your book. Nor will people who like ‘two for a shilling” blood and thunder trash novels. Your public of readers will be those who like to read good books of adventures and autobiographies with a personal touch and experience. Now, please, I want to read your book, if you don’t mind”.
       I gave him the book and when he returned it he had commented  “In my humble opinion it’s well written, the story is free flowing, good humored and also very interesting. Besides, there are a lot of people who need to remind the History of their own country. So go ahead and don’t underestimate yourself.”
         So dear readers, I sincerely hope you’ll agree with him and you’ll enjoy the book too.