Brigadier General (Ret.) Hadova Almog (born 1948) is an Israeli public woman who was formerly the deputy and deputy of the mayor of Haifa Yona Yahav. In the years 1987-1991 she was a chief intelligence officer in the IDF.
A certain dissonance exists between the image of the glorious military and civilian coolness and the woman we will meet in her home, just like the saber plant (in a real saber test) - a little hard on the outside, while soft and sweet on the inside.
Here is the section that brings you fascinating Haifa characters in their homes where the introduction is through the stories, the charges and the unique point of view of the people who make up the human mosaic of our city Haifa. That is, these are the people who live and live here - just like the name of the section - "I also live here".
As part of this section we will get to know Haifa characters and their place of residence. The acquaintance is not through the square footage of the apartment, or a real estate appraisal or a design description only, rather, the essence of this acquaintance is to get to know through the stories, the emotional charge and the unique personal point of view in the host's house.
Summary of an extensive and glorious career - in the shortest possible way
In her youth, Hadova Yaffe-Almog was a member of the "Hashomer Hatzair" movement, and as a result she joined the IDF (1967) as part of the movement's Nahal nucleus. During her years in the IDF, she did a military service course that included many command and training positions until she was appointed as an officer of the Nahal 1978-1976.
In 1981, she was an army officer in the Northern Command for 3 years and was later appointed to be the commander of the IDF's central training base. In 1987, she was appointed to the position of chief army officer, at the rank of brigadier general. She held this position until 1991. During those years She was also an advisor to the head of the ACA and the General Staff of the IDF on the issues of women's service in the army.
Almog is a graduate of the National Security College. Has a bachelor's degree in education and political science and a master's degree in political science from the University of Haifa. After retiring from the IDF, she began voluntary work within Naamat, and in 1994 she was appointed to the position of chairperson of Naamat in Haifa. In 1998, she was elected chairwoman of Naamat in Israel, and later, chairwoman of Naamat worldwide.
Almog's political life
Almog entered political life in 2002 when she was appointed a member of the city council in the faction of the mayor at the time Amram Metzna. After that, Hadva Almog served as the mayor's deputy in the two previous terms of Yona Yahav and at that time was considered one of the most powerful people in the Haifa political system, especially due to her being the chairman of the sub-committee for planning and construction.
Just before the outbreak of the Corona epidemic, in February 2020 - she was chosen to be the chairman of the association for the commemoration of the martyrs of the Nahal, which made her the first woman to hold this position in an official military commemoration association.
From the house the motto is "anticipating problems and preventing them"
Her overwhelming success in the IDF and in her civilian career came to her thanks to the background and education she received at home. Hadva, to a beautiful family, was born nine days after the declaration of independence of the State of Israel, when the air was full of hope for freedom, equality and brotherhood.
The mother, Geula Rossman, a smart and brilliant feminist woman, immigrated to Israel from Poland as early as 1934, and later was a librarian at the Kiryat Eliezer Library and later managed the library in Neve Shanan. Her father, born in Vilna, whose family left for Johannesburg, founded the "Hashomer HaTsair" movement there. In 1939 he immigrated to Israel and was one of the founders of Kibbutz Hatzur, and later a foreman at the Port of Haifa.
Her father served in the British Army while her mother served in the ATA (Women's Corps of the Jewish Brigade) as a corps medic in Egypt. The "minister of destiny" met them in Haifa at "Beitno", the cultural center in the Hadar neighborhood. A beautiful couple had 3 daughters. Hadova Ruthi's sister, lives in Haifa, was a teacher, and another sister, the late Dalia, CEO of the "Hakron" theater, Dalia died about 3 years ago.
Childhood in Neve Yosef
Hadova describes a "magical childhood" in the "Neva Yosef" neighborhood, which was surrounded by lots of vegetation and urban nature. A neighborhood that was established in 1949 as a neighborhood for ex-soldiers, ex-Jewish Brigade, ex-British Army and IDF ex-servicemen. "Neva Yosef" is named after Yosef Erdstein, who was a leader of Haifa workers during the Mandate period. The neighborhood is on the northern slopes of the Neve Shanan neighborhood.
Hadva says that she was a very playful and energetic girl. She loved to climb trees, play soccer and stay at the nature "camp" next to the neighborhood.
In her youth, the students of the "Tel Hai" school were associated with the youth movement "Hashomer Hatzair" and thus, from the 5th grade, her courageous connection to this movement began. The traffic center was a long way from her parents' house, so she usually received half a penny for the trip. But she preferred the hour's walk in her scuffed shoes, and with the money she saved, she bought a portion of pepper or something sweet. "Kfar Galim".
the nucleus of the movement
The youth layer of her class at the agricultural school was destined to be a nucleus that would be associated with Kibbutz Masada. In 1967, while the class was in the kibbutz's grape harvest, the alarm signal for the outbreak of the Six Day War was heard. Later that year, these students were recruited into the IDF. It should be noted that about 15% of all of this core layer entered their military service as commanders and commanders.
Missionary and sticks to the goal
She began her military service as a Nahal. The Nahal Brigade is a regular infantry brigade subordinate to the Steel Design. The name of the brigade is derived from the initials of the "Fighter Pioneer Youth" framework. However, the majority of the brigade is made up of soldiers who are not connected to the settlement movement and the nuclei of the youth movement. 90 female soldiers started her service course in the Makiyot course and only 45 female soldiers finished it. The majority of the Nahala female population are a very, very strong social group and each one of them must be mission-oriented and stick to the goal.
And sometimes... you have to hide the smile
It's possible that not all IDF female officers know, but Hadova, who was later appointed to the position of chief military officer at the rank of brigadier general, was almost "thrown away" just before the end of the officers' course... this was due to a smile that was not hidden. One of the commanders was checking to see if the dust had been removed from the high shelf of the shutter box that was next to Hadva's bed. The commander went up, was not careful, tripped, slipped and fell.
Hadva who watched the new born, could not hide a tiny smile which almost caused her not to finish the course. Although after trial and error the generations were reconciled and the staff decided to grant her the rank of officer.
Only after about 20 years, when Hadva was given the position of chief military officer, Col. Stella Levy told her in a whisper: "The staff of the officer course did not make a mistake in giving you the rank of officer" and even smiled.
Any military position - at a very young age
Hadva's ability to advance in receiving senior ranks and to accept essential positions, stems from her being able to treat a person as he is a person. She knows how to speak "at eye level" and with the same proportionality both to the Chief of Staff and to the Sheg.
It so happened that at the age of less than 21 she was the commanding officer of the Mkiot course, at the age of 22 she was in the rank of lieutenant and at the age of 30 she was already serving as a major. Hadova is aware of the fact that in the army the essence of age is a very dominant thing, and therefore she is very grateful to everyone who was her commander during Serving her, he recognized and saw things in her that even she did not recognize or believe in herself.
Social work studies that were rejected again and again and again
According to the "minister of history" Almog is a graduate of the National Security College, with a bachelor's degree in education and political science and a master's degree in political science from the University of Haifa. But in fact she wanted to be educated and even enrolled in social work studies. Three times she canceled her registration for these studies, but instead she was promoted to unique positions and even promoted in the military ranks.
Almog family
In 1981, the couple Hadva Yaffe and the late Beni Almog met in... Shekm. A year later they were married. My son is also a Haifai who worked at the port of Haifa under the guidance of the giant cranes in the port. The couple has two sons: Ehud (born in 83) who served in the Marram, graduated from the Technion and is currently engaged in internet advertising and Roi (born in 87) who served in the paratroopers and is currently a businessman, married with two daughters (almost 5+ years and XNUMX months).
Referring to her son's service in the Parachute Corps, Hadva says that "it is easier to be the commander of tens of thousands of soldiers than the mother of one combat soldier." She understands, sympathizes, cherishes, respects and salutes all those mothers (and fathers too) whose sons and daughters are currently living in military service.
The house in Neve Shanan neighborhood
In 91, mother Hedva brought her little son Roy to the garden and on her return to the direction of Moona, which was a small apartment on Malal Street (Nosh), she saw a group of workers near a building under construction. Without hesitation she approached, asked, was interested and even went up the rickety stairs. When she came to the door of the apartment she decided: this will be our new home.
This residential building is also in the Neve Shanan neighborhood. She had no hesitation in choosing the location since in her opinion the Nosh neighborhood must include all the required services, day care centers, schools and even cafes.
A prominent advantage for the neighborhood is its location in Haifa. Ziv Square in the center of the settlement is a major crossroads controlling the traffic between the Check Post and the mansion, and between Nesher and Dania and the city and Hadar. From this point of view, things went well and even improved, since the Nahal HaGivuri road that opened in December 2013, allows the residents of Nosh to bypass the Hadar neighborhood on their way to the lower city.
"Tailoring the apartment" according to personal taste and need
A year passed until the Almog family moved into their current residence. At the time of purchase, there were only the shell walls of the building, therefore the Almog family could adapt and "tailor" the apartment according to the needs of the family members. Since at the time the two sons were still young, all the carpentry and furniture details are cut corners, and alternately rounded.
Her husband, the late Benny Almog, came up with the idea of the massive wooden beams around the dining area as protection for the wall adjacent to this corner, while Hadova drew the shelves separating the foyer and the staircase on the way to the children's floor.
The dining area - also as a work area
Living in the current apartment, since 1992, created habits and memories. The spacious dining area is also used by Hadva as a work area. This is when she is sitting near a photograph very dear to her heart in which former Prime Minister Mrs. Golda Meir is seen disembarking from a military helicopter surrounded by distinguished entourage, while a young officer (Hadva!), with a short skirt fashionable at the time, carries an umbrella and protects her from the rain...
The place at the top of the table
The dining area is also used for meals and even as a place for conversation. Hadva has an emotional habit of sitting at the head of the table. This is the place where her late husband Benny Zal used to sit, who passed away in April 2014. In her opinion, she feels as if when she is sitting in the chair she is "a little close to him"... looking at his photographs in the apartment one can indeed justify any longing, especially for his good eyes and his bright smile.
The large and comfortable leather armchair
As a devout consumer of what is happening in Israel and the world, both in the military and political aspects - she enjoys watching the news on the various television channels. For this purpose, in the living room of the house there is a large and comfortable leather armchair in a central and permanent position, burgundy color, on which is a pillow with a photo of her eldest granddaughter, a pillow that is (one of many) from her beloved daughter-in-law.
The terrace and the surrounding greenery
As memories of being a "child of nature" Hadva takes care of the balcony of her house. Around this corner emerge the trees of the building and even the green vegetation that surrounds it. A pot of cyclamen blooms in a "garden gnome" style vessel, a vessel that was picked up on the street. In many pots the flowers of the season are already starting to bloom. Additional flower pots and various decorations hang and decorate the terrace area.
A house with a lot of reading atmosphere
Many photos decorate Hadva Almog's home, as well as photos that bring up memories, but without any doubt you can feel the atmosphere of the many readings. Books are not necessarily in her library, so Hadva very quickly pulls out the books she is reading now, even those dear to her heart.
By the way, she does not at all mention the book of Hadva Almog: To be a soldier - a guide for recruits, (Editor: Sigal Bar-Kovacs Diner), Jerusalem: Keter Publishing, 1993.
"Kids are fine"
The first book on display that she is currently reading is by Hana Yablonka "Kids are Perfectly Fine". This is the story of the generation born in the country, that is, the generation of the first Israelis and among them even Hadova herself. Between the years 1948-1955, about 300 thousand children were born in the new country.
In fact, these children were born to parents who belonged to the generations of the Holocaust and the World War and the generation of 578. These children grew up to be Jews of a new breed. A breed whose basis of existence is characterized by routine, normality, and above all, basic existential security. These were children who were born in the existing State of Israel and not into a dream any.
Routine life consisted of walking to kindergarten, to school, to traffic, to the salon company, to the army. The calendar was indeed the Jewish calendar, but there was more of the Israeli spirit. The enormous and terrible upheaval came with the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War. The book describes those born in the first years of Medina as exhausted, disappointed and homesick graduates.
Hana Yavlonka draws a generational portrait of children who felt a total identification with the "state" and felt themselves to be part of the miracle of its establishment.
New edition: Amos Oz / "A story about love and darkness"
The other book that is on the table in the living room of the house is Amos Oz's story in a new edition. In the first person, Oz describes his childhood in the Kerem Avraham neighborhood in Jerusalem and his youth and adolescence in Kibbutz Huldah.
The background to the story is the Mandate period, the events of the friction with the Israeli Arabs and the description of the establishment of the state and its first years. Oz also describes the previous generations of his family in Eastern Europe. The book is full of political and literary reflections, and sharply portrays the intellectuals and politicians he encounters.
Amos Oz admitted that in writing the story they told "A Tale of Love and Darkness", he sometimes took creative freedom from the factual truth. To tell a style that gives the stories authenticity and credibility due to comments and quotations from other books and in different fields.
"The journey to a dream" - Yona Yahav
Since it is indeed a house of knowledge and mostly contains books, the story of the new-old mayor, Yona Yahav, "The Journey to Dream" was immediately pulled out. This is a story that describes in detail Yona's dream, a childhood dream of a boy who lived in a small apartment and paid rent until he became the mayor of Haifa.
At the age of 12, during a social class at Leo-Bek School, Yona announced to his classmates that he would be the mayor of Haifa. And indeed, as everyone knows, that's how it happened, after he had trained himself for this position for many years.
Yahav's book is the story of a boy who dreamed far and wide, set goals and stuck to them, but it is also a description of the history of a leader who dedicated his life to public and political action with great love and especially to Haifa - the city of the mountain and the sea.
Hadova knows that "Yahva is the person who will be the mayor of everyone and everything". She tells about his ability to make plans with the help of people. She says "Yona Yahav has this necessary feature that will improve the quality of life of all Haifa residents".
The commemoration site for the martyrs of the Nahal and the Education Corps located near Pardes Hana
Even today Hadova Almog does not rest for a moment. She emphasizes that engaging in politics is a place that requires a great deal of your time and mental resources. Whoever is in it must be a person who accepts criticism and even listens to it, and she indeed has such abilities. But now that she is alive, she prefers to devote her time to establishing "the work of her life", a museum for the heritage of the Nahal.
As you know, in February 2020 Hadva Almog was elected to be the chairman of the association for the commemoration of the martyrs of the Nahal, thus she became the first woman to hold this position in an official military commemoration association. Ladida Nahal has enormous rights in the establishment of settlements along all the borders of the country. This museum will have an expression in the structure of the monument itself as well as dedicated content that will be brought to the visitor in a digital form, including:
- The stories of the holdings and the permanent settlements
- History of the 50th Battalion and the Nahal Brigade
- The cultural heritage of the Nahal: educators, female soldiers, the Nahal band and more
Advancing the status of women and also the beauty of the country's nature
Furthermore, at the forefront of her mind is a subject that is a pillar. This is the issue of promoting the status of women. Almog hopes for times when there will be equal opportunities in women's occupations, and she even acts and initiates this.
In addition to her many activities, in her spare time Almog watches movies, plays and loves spending time with her family members as well as her many friends. These pastimes can be in nature or in the many restaurants on the Carmel, or in Wadi Nisnas and also soup at the ultra-Orthodox's.
Almog thirstily gulps down the wonder of the establishment of the state, she is eager to stay in the fields and landscape of the country and even "squeeze to the end" the beauty of nature and the fulfillment of Zionism and Israeliness.
From personal acquaintance for many years in my work at the municipality I can say that Hadeva is a special person in all respects! A different kind of politician. There is a lot to learn from her both on a professional level and certainly on a personal level!
We saw on the panic channels that many of the ex-army spoke out in a disgraceful way against the government and the people and their true face was revealed.
It seems that the lady in the article is not like that, and kudos to her.
Shabbat Shalom
She was a great dairy farmer in Kfar Galim!!!
Hey
Excellent Rachel
So comprehensive - as usual with you.
With your help, I got to know Hadva, who I know from a joint activity.
Hadva dear woman (Aminesh) helped a lot of people without a health care account
Madam, the left has degraded us into the mire we are in today
"Because of her" all the environmental disasters in Haifa, the Grand Concrete Monster, the Carmel Tunnels and the Heroes' Bridge, which totally destroyed Wadi Rushmia.
Surely the failed old man Yahav will appoint her to some position again.
Hadva "Almog", reached the status of the chairman of the global "NAMAT"@
Did you care to improve the wages and working conditions of the nannies...!???
Yes indeed!!. I want details, by word of mouth. Because of a fight in favor of facts, I lost the elections. Because I went against the Histadrut. But I was at peace with what I did
Wow fascinating
Full of power and emotion
I would love to hear the stories up close and I would love to meet her
A beautiful article, a nice woman, Ms. Hadva.
I didn't understand only the compliments to Yona Yahav, one of the worst mayors who were here in my opinion.
Brigadier General Hoda Almog a special woman Well done to you Racheli and to you Hoda too. Shalom and blessed Sabbath to all
I liked the article. All the best to Hadva Almog. Yes, women like her will multiply
There is nothing to say during Hadva's time, the director of engineering worked, she succeeded very well in activating the city engineer, because if she had not succeeded, the director of engineering would not have functioned because the head of the director, the city engineer, is not functioning. Klish and on their vacations they will sail with Nachshon in his yacht. It's time to say goodbye to the city engineer for the good of the city.
To the loyal reader...what do you have against Hadva Almog?
At your request Smeder - a short trip on the street of the slams monsters Habiva Reich will give you an answer.
As well as the manner of managing the granting of building permits in violation of the law by virtue of her position as the chairman of the sub-committee for planning and construction in the Haifa municipality, which led to the destruction of the Green Carmel.
I can add but that's enough.
I know and cherish Hadva very much. Which as her name is. Being next to Hadva and of course being a member of the committee that Hadva chairs, I learned to appreciate and respect Hadva. The honesty of sharing all the members in a joint decision is indeed true. Immediately at eye level, honesty and friendship. For 15 years I was privileged to serve as a member of Asher Hadva Yore. Of course I would love to be back to study and participate in activities alongside Hadva. Everything written here is true and correct. Eliyahu Hakim.
Does not reach the monstrous ankles of Einat Kalish but is far from being soft, attentive and considerate.
Dear Rachel, an instructive article. Thank you.
You make the dear and distinguished people of the city of Haifa accessible to us.
Dew
Dear and respected city of Haifa?!?
The municipal committee for determining names must consider changing the name of Habiva Reich Street to the "Garden of the Monsters" after Hadva Almog.