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95-year-old Shirley Temple from Haifa - the story of the "Hagana" company Ayala (TBA) and her husband Motka Ron (deceased)

On a personal note

For more than a decade I have been documenting life stories in books, articles and exhibitions, to commemorate the legacy of the members of the older generation who contributed, each and every one in their own way, to the establishment of the state. The Hagana organization, in which both my grandfathers were members (one in Haifa, the other in Jerusalem), is close to my heart. Hence, the interviews I had with Ayala Ron, the 95-year-old "Hagana" member, especially these days, moved me in a special way. Brings to you the fascinating story of Ayala (XNUMX) and Mutka Ron (deceased).

Childhood in Hungary

She was born on August 28, 1929 in Sombathei, the oldest of the Hungarian cities, named the girl, their middle daughter of Rose וMeir Salmon. The parents led a religious lifestyle. Father Meir worked as an expert carpenter and mother was a housewife, taking care of the children.   

After the birth of the eldest daughter Greta (favor), the father hoped with all his heart for a son to join the family, but since he was born the girl, recorded her birth date on Yom Kippur as a sign of disappointment, a date that obviously did not match the facts. Later, Mashaba gave birth to a third daughter, Leah, her father recorded her date of birth as Tisha B'av.

The Salmon family in Hungary before immigrating to Israel (private album)
The Salmon family in Hungary before immigrating to Israel (private album)
Hilda (Ayla) Salmon, 3 years old in Hungary (private album)
Hilda (Ayla) Salmon, 3 years old in Hungary (private album)

At a certain point, when they began to feel an alienated attitude towards the Jews, the parents decided to leave Hungary. When the girl was one year old, the family moved to Pioma in Italy, where they lived for four years. United for the immigration to Israel, the family members returned to Hungary to say goodbye to the family members who remained to live there and immigrated to Israel. 

A few years later, World War II broke out. Thousands of Jews who lived in Sombathei and its surroundings were taken by train to Auschwitz and found their deaths and only a few dozen of them survived. Ayala's grandparents on her mother's side as well as her aunt and her four children, who remained in Hungary, died in the Holocaust. Two other brothers and sisters of the mother had time to immigrate to Brazil ahead of time and there they continued their lives with the families they founded.

The Salmon family immigrates to Palestine and settles in Haifa

In 1935 the Salmon family immigrated to Israel and settled in Haifa. With the help of elements in the Jewish community, a small apartment was arranged for the family in the German colony in Haifa. The father's profession as an expert carpenter was in demand and he was immediately accepted by the "ship repair" company to repair damage on ships, while the mother took care of the girls and the household.

Some time later, the family moved to a small apartment at 29 Hashomer Street in Haifa, not far from the "Ahadot" bakery. The girl and her sister were enrolled in the "Gaula" school in Hadar HaCarmel, where the girl was given a Hebrew name - Doe, a name she carries proudly ever since and for the rest of her life.

A few months later, when her grandparents learned that their granddaughter was studying in a secular school, they demanded that she be transferred to a religious setting. The parents did as they were told and transferred Ayala to the ultra-orthodox girls' school "Beit Ya'akov" on Tabor Street, where she studied until the 8th grade while her sister stayed to study at "Gaula".   

"I was a cute and quite playful girl, surrounded by many secular friends. They used to affectionately call me "Shirley Temple", Ayala testifies. "I used to sneak out of school to participate in my favorite gymnastics classes, given by the teacher Shmuel Bialik At the "Gaula" school, which I'm glad Ami cooperated with. Shmuel was very fond of me and we remained close friends. To this day I keep in touch with his children.    

Ayala and her friends at "Beit Ya'akov" school (private album)
Ayala and her friends at "Beit Ya'akov" school (private album)
Ayala Salmon (Ron) in the "Shirley Temple" look (private album)
Ayala Salmon (Ron) in the "Shirley Temple" look (private album)
Ayala and her classmates at "Beit Yaakov" school in Haifa (private album)
Ayala and her classmates at "Beit Yaakov" school in Haifa (private album)

The girl Ayala joins the organization "the defense"

When she was 14, Ayala heard from her friends about their activities in the "Hagana" organization and decided to enlist in its ranks. She was sworn in to the organization and went out with her friends for nighttime training, order drills, KAPF (face-to-face combat) and more. At the same time, lessons were held on the weapon: removing a Nitsara from a grenade and disassembling and assembling the Sten rifle. Later they went out to practice what they had learned with live fire while she was carrying the grenade under her shirt. 

The theoretical study lessons on the weapon took place in the warehouse where he was removed, not far from her house on Hashomer Street, in one of the houses on the stairs leading up to Halutz Street.

Among the tasks assigned to Ayala and her friends were hanging banners and demonstrating in order to prevent the Arabs from leaving the country, as well as guarding the homes of those who chose to leave at night. "I stood with the stan gun at night, alone," she recalls. "I wasn't afraid at all."  

When she was about 15 and a half years old, Ayala was given command of a group of boys younger than her, girls and boys. Sometimes, after a long night of activity, the members of the "Hagana" stayed to spend the night in the pioneer house. One night, which she remembers well, she felt the guide's hand on her body and raised a scream. This event never happened again.

The girl Ayala (Salmon) Ron, Defense Society, June 1945
The girl Ayala (Salmon) Ron, Defense Society, June 1945
Ayala Ron and her friends from the "Hagana" organization in Haifa (private album)
Ayala Ron and her friends from the "Hagana" organization in Haifa (private album)
Ayala (Salmon) Ron and her friends for the "Hagana" organization in Haifa (private album)
Ayala (Salmon) Ron and her friends for the "Hagana" organization in Haifa (private album)

In a shop that sells chocolate in the lower city 

In 1944, after Yom Kippur, her father tripped while going down into the belly of the ship he was working on and was killed on the spot. The mother, who was left to support the family alone, went to work in the household and Ayala, the middle daughter, was assigned to help with the various household chores, including carrying a quarter block of ice home once a week when he came to the street from the ice section.   

These were days of scarcity in the country and the financial situation in the family home was difficult. In order to help her mother with her livelihood, Ayala enrolled in the Arab High School "Ba Maale" (where she actually studied for only a short period) and looked for a day job. To her delight, she was accepted to work in a prestigious store selling fine chocolate and pralines in the lower city owned by the Bader family. "They taught me how to weigh accurately on the scales and how to arrange the shop window," she recalls wistfully. "They trusted me despite my young age."

"Near the corner store there was a pub where the British soldiers hung out with girls and often bought bonbonnieres with fine chocolates for them," says Ayala. "Once, a British soldier came in and asked for a certain bottle of drink from the top shelf. When I climbed the ladder to get the requested bottle, he followed me with his gaze and complimented my feet. Later he asked me if I was a member of the Haganah. I answered with feigned surprise: "Why, I'm just little girl…”   

Ayala (Salmon) Ron at the chocolate shop in Haifa where she worked in her youth (private album)
Ayala (Salmon) Ron at the chocolate shop in Haifa where she worked in her youth (private album)

Meeting with a young doctor from Hungary in the refugee camp in Atlit

At the same time as her work in the store and her activity in "Hagana", Ayala responded to the call of her commanders to help refugees who survived the Holocaust who immigrated to Israel from Hungary and stayed in the Atlit camp. On Saturdays, the "Hagana" people made sure to drive the volunteers to Atlit and bring them back. The conversations with the volunteers who did not know Hebrew, in their mother tongue, were intended to make it easier for them in their first steps in Israel, to understand what their needs are and to help as much as possible.

Among the immigrants from Hungary was also Car, a young doctor from Hungary who is several years older than her. During the months in which Ayala volunteered at the camp, the two became friends and fell in love, much to the mother's joy. After leaving the camp, he enlisted for military service, but after he was seriously injured in the war of liberation, his mother pressured him to break off the relationship.

Introducing Mutaka Ron, later a commander in the northern district of the police

You Mordechai (Mutaka) Rubinstein Met through friends during her time working at the chocolate shop. Mutka, born in Poland, who is six years older than her, immigrated to Israel in 1925 and studied at the Netzach Israel school and the vocational school next to the Technion.

After naval training, he enlisted in the British Royal Navy and served in it for six years in the Mediterranean and Red Seas. In 1947 he went on a mission of the "Hagana" organization on a procurement mission in Europe. During the time he served in the British Navy, every time he arrived at the port of Haifa he used to visit the nearby chocolate shop and buy pralines and small chocolates filled with liqueur. 

"At that time I had a boyfriend who was a few years older than me," says Ayala. "Motka used to bring to Israel ivory statues that he had acquired on his travels and my friend fixed his eyes on them. Motka offered him to choose one of the statues as he saw fit, and in return, he asked for me, his girlfriend. To my astonishment, my friend gave me up in exchange for an ivory statue... Happily, courage turned out sweet. Bini And love blossomed between Motka and I won a partner and a charming and special person. Motka loved me very much, every time he came to Israel he lavished me with gifts. After several years together we decided to get married."

Ayala and Motka Ron on their honeymoon in the north of Israel, 1949 (private album)
Ayala and Motka Ron on their honeymoon in the north of Israel, 1949 (private album)

Ayala and Motka Ron are getting married

On May 17, 1949, Ayala married her chosen one at the "Cake" cafe on Mount Carmel. She received the wedding dress as a gift from the owner of the chocolate shop where she worked for five years, who was a family member.

After their marriage, the young couple lived for a short time in Ayala's mother's apartment on Hess Street. "My red-haired, temperamental mother used to enter our room without knocking on the door first," recalls Ayala with a smile. "Fortunately for us, her cough due to the heavy smoking gave away every time she approached the room..."

Later they moved to a small apartment on Stanton Street (Shivit Zion) that was rented for them by the police. The next stop in their wanderings was to a small apartment on the roof of a house on Emek Zeytim Street, the construction of which was arranged by Mutka's brother who was an apartment broker. Finally, they settled in Ramat Shaul, in the house where Ayala lives to this day.  

"I really only fell in love with Motka after we got married," Ayala says candidly. "I got to know him deeply and fell in love. We were lucky, we loved each other very much and we had a good time together. Mutka was a charming, person-loving and talented man. He built all the furniture in the house himself, with the golden hands he was gifted with." 

Ayala and Motka Ron on their wedding day, May 17, 1949 (private album)
Ayala and Motka Ron on their wedding day, May 17, 1949 (private album)
Ayala and Motka Ron on their wedding day at the "Cake" cafe in Haifa, May 17, 1949 (private album)
Ayala and Motka Ron on their wedding day at the "Cake" cafe in Haifa, May 17, 1949 (private album)

Work in the Hs departmentAnd Tsialit, volunteering in the isotopes department at Rambam

In her adult life, Ayala worked in the social department of the Haifa municipality, until the birth of her son מנחם in 1952. Her eldest daughter illuminates Born in 1950 and her third son rummy Born in 1954.

The Ron Family (private album)
The Ron Family (private album)

In 1949 Motka enlisted in the Israel Police and was assigned to establish the Coast Guard. To this end, he used to occasionally travel to Germany and Japan, each time for a period of several months, during which he closely supervised the construction of the ships intended for the coast guard. In 1960 he went to a course for senior police officers and maritime studies and was qualified as a first seaman. In this position he advanced to the rank of deputy chief and was later appointed commander of the Haifa district which then received responsibility for the port.

In 1968, during his stay in Japan for work, when she was left alone to take care of their three children, their fourth son was born, my father. About six years ago, son Menachem passed away from a serious illness. Over the years, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren were born to the extended Ron family.

In the meantime, Motka advanced through the ranks and was appointed as the commander of the northern district in the Israel Police. Meetings and parties, social and family, were held at their home and Ayala enjoyed preparing and hosting with love. At the same time, she volunteered for the parents' committee at the "Ramot" elementary school in Ramat Shaul where the children studied. In a short time she was chosen to head it and was attracted to the position with all her heart.

"There were days when classes had 40 children," she says. "I was involved and took care of every problem that arose, including conversations with the teacher or the principal, as needed. I participated in trips as an accompanying parent and when necessary I also made scandals..."

Ayala, who was gifted with "Thorns in Tosik", was looking for meaningful employment where she could contribute with her abilities and her therapeutic approach. Her dream from a young age to become a nurse, which at the time was cut short due to the lack of ability to finance her studies, attracted her to volunteer at the Rambam Hospital.

For 48 years (!) Ayala voluntarily managed the archive of the isotope department for nuclear medicine which contained thousands of files. During the Corona days, it was decided to complete the computerization process and the physical archive was canceled.   

"I really liked working at the hospital, the relationship with the patients. Thanks to the experience and acquaintances I gained, I helped as much as I could, even beyond my tasks. Early in the morning I would go to Bat Galim beach, swim, shower and arrive refreshed at the hospital. So for many years..."  

Mutaka establishes and manages the oil museum at the "Sheman" factory

After he was not appointed commissioner, a position he was among the candidates for, Mutaka decided to retire from the police. After his retirement, he served for about 5 years as a VP at the "ZIM" company, first as VP of Human Resources and then as VP of Security Affairs. At the same time, he continued volunteering in various organizations.

A collection of photos prepared for Mutaka Ron in recognition of his activities (private album)
A collection of photos prepared for Mutaka Ron in recognition of his activities (private album)

After leaving "ZIM" he was offered to manage the museum of the oil industry in Israel. The museum was established in 1984 in the courtyard of the "Oil" factory at the initiative of the CEO of "Kur-Mazon", Benjamin Ghibli, with the aim of showing the development of the early oil industry, the beginning of industrialization and mechanization and the edible oil industry today.

Mutaka was deeply drawn to the work and made sure to bring wood and stone exhibits to illustrate the processes. At the same time, Ayala also helped in arranging and organizing the collected historical photos. The museum regularly hosted groups from schools in the area and the children showed great interest in the display and explanations.

Mutaka's death, the guest room that became a museum

In 1987, under the pressure of his family, Mutaka, with the help of his wife, wrote down his childhood memories of Haifa in the 20s and 30s, a colorful world that had disappeared that he remembered in great detail. A year later, the day after Seder night, a friend joined him and together they went to one of the Arab villages to bring incense stones to the museum, during the visit, without any early signs, he suddenly suffered a heart attack and died. After his death, the family, with the help of some Haifa-loving friends, completed the processing of the raw material in order to publish his memoirs.

In the introduction to the book "My Childhood Memories" the then police commissioner, Rafi Peled, wrote:

"The combination of the love of the sea and the tireless dedication to matters of security, law and order, resulted in a wonderful career as a man and an officer. Motka Ron will be remembered as one of those few who succeed in leaving their mark on their environment and instilling values ​​that include universal messages, both Jewish and human."

After Motka's death, the managers of the "Sheman" museum gave Ayala and the family a souvenir album in which he collected photos from the time he ran the museum. This is what the dedication says:

"To Ayala, the children and the grandchildren. Allow us to present you this album, a humble souvenir of the factory of our manager and friend Mutka Ron, the late director of the Museum of the Oil Industry in Israel. With respect and friendship, David sealed it and Abraham left it."

Motka installs the millstones for display in the "Sheman" museum (private album, souvenir for the family)
Motka installs the millstones for display in the Sheman museum (private album, a souvenir for his family)
Invitation to the inauguration of the Oil Museum at the "Sheman" factory, 1984 (private album)
Invitation to the inauguration of the Oil Museum at the "Sheman" factory, 1984 (private album)
The Museum of the Oil Industry in the Land of Israel at the Oil Factory, 1984 (from a private album, given to the Motka family)
The Museum of the Oil Industry in the Land of Israel at the Oil Factory, 1984 (from a private album, given to the Motka family)
Incense stones in the museum at the Shemen factory, 1984 (from a souvenir album given to the Mutka Ron family, the first manager)
Incense stones in the museum at the Shemen factory, 1984 (from a souvenir album given to the Mutka Ron family, the first manager)

Since Mutka's death, the guest room in Ayala's house has been used as a family museum to commemorate her husband, her close friend, the father of her children. The items displayed in it commemorate his work and the mark he left behind. Photos and certificates of appreciation from his time serving in the police, a collection of menorahs that he collected with love, a collection of plates depicting a doe that he bought around the world for his beloved wife, plenty of souvenirs and family photos. The house and the abundance of exhibits, by the way, is cleaned and maintained by Ayala herself to this day.    

Ayala and Motka Ron, a beautiful and happy couple (private album)
Ayala and Motka Ron, a beautiful and happy couple (private album)
Ayala Ron next to some of the exhibits in the memorial room for her husband Mutka Ron (Photo: Yael Horowitz)
Ayala Ron next to some of the exhibits in the memorial room for her husband Mutka Ron (Photo: Yael Horowitz)
The Motka memorial room, family museum in Beit Ayala Ron (photo: Yael Horowitz)
The Motka memorial room, family museum in Beit Ayala Ron (photo: Yael Horowitz)

It is not difficult to fall in love with Ayala, a well-kept and noble woman who radiates optimism and joy of life. Her positive attitude is evidenced by her words even in the midst of these challenging days in which the State of Israel is fighting for its existence:

"I grew up in Haifa, in a good neighborhood with Arabs, I speak the Arabic language, I served in the Haganah - all these lead me to believe that even though the State of Israel is in the most difficult period in its history, there is room for hope that good days of unity and peace will come between all the residents of the country and our neighbors" .

95-year-old Ayala Ron on the balcony of her home, hopelessly optimistic (Photo: Yael Horowitz)
95-year-old Ayala Ron on the balcony of her home, hopelessly optimistic (Photo: Yael Horowitz)
The entrance to the Ron family home (Photo: Yael Horowitz)
The entrance to the Ron family home (Photo: Yael Horowitz)

contact: At watsapBy email

Yael Horowitz
Yael Horowitz
Yael Horowitz, records life stories and commemorations of the older generation, produces historical books and exhibitions for families, organizations and companies. Photography and documentation. Consulting and workshops for writing life stories in small groups. To contact Yael Horowitz, "Mash'oli Haim": 050 - 3266760 | [email protected] For all articles by Yael Horowitz

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13 תגובות

  1. Thank you to the author for such a beautiful and detailed article.

    I am proud to bear the family name of "Ron"

  2. Indeed, Motka Ron, the commander of the Haifa and the North region of the Israel Police, is remembered as a worthy and respected man and commander in the police. Connected and known to the residents of Haifa and a humble person who is very dedicated to his respected position as police chief.

  3. As Ayla's daughter, I am, of course, biased as to her personality and know her personal history. All this did not detract from the matter in which I read the article written with great skill and I enjoyed it very much.

    • Thank you, dear Meira,
      And many more years of health and optimism to your lovely mother

  4. Yael
    As usual - a fascinating article.
    I would appreciate an explanation of the sentence:
    "Among the tasks assigned to Ayala and her friends were hanging banners and demonstrating in order to prevent the Arabs from leaving the country, as well as guarding the homes of those who chose to leave at night."
    I don't know this issue as part of the activities of the "Hagana" organization. I would love to wait.
    Happy New Year and above all - good news
    Jacob

    • Thank you Jacob.
      As for your question, I also did not hear this from any of the Haganah members I interviewed in the past, but this is what Ayala said, I asked her and she did not remember any more details about it (I will try to talk to her again about this matter). The more familiar activity of the "Hagana" members I spoke with was hanging banners and demonstrations against the White Paper.

  5. An exciting life story full of content and an incomprehensible resume from which the narratives and building a life full of color and action
    Since I am a neighbor and a childhood friend of Rami's son
    And the first child of Ramat Shaul remembers Tov the family and the father Motka in his hobby as a carpenter at home with all the tools in their warehouse as a child
    An inspiring family
    From me Kriger Zvi

    • Hello Zvi,
      thank you for your response
      And for sharing the memories of the past

  6. What a wonderful article, interesting and full of affection for the interviewee and the subject. A pleasure to read.
    Good wishes and health to Ayala.

    • Thank you, Yaeli, for the kind words.

      I join in your wishes, of course.

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