At the end of 2009, the 'Shoresh' group was established, bringing together veterans who have more or less of an affinity for the city of Haifa. They meet once a month for a few hours, tour the city's neighborhoods, listen to lectures, do outdoor activities, and enjoy every idea or initiative of the members.
Meeting number five was scheduled for June 19, 2010, and our friend Eli Gerber approached me with the suggestion of bringing someone interesting to tell stories for the company. Eli managed to intrigue me, and we invited the guest to the aforementioned meeting.
The meeting was held at the Mandarin Cafe on the estate, where we met David. Accompanied by his wife Ruthie, a handsome, thin man appeared, erect in stature, with a mane of hair, and with a magnifying glass you could see that gray hair was starting to appear here and there. A picture that made it clear that the young man was already an adult and no longer a child. We were amazed to hear that the adult boy was eighty-eight years old. The first explanation was the meaning of the complex name, and then it turned out that the young man was the grandson of the British Commissioner in Israel and bore the same name and title.
After a few words of introduction, he began to tell us stories from his past in fluent and fluent language. Our history teachers could not believe the level of attention we showed to his stories. During the Great War, he served in the British Artillery and participated in the fighting in Southeast Asia.
David granted our request and joined the group, arriving at every meeting from Tel Aviv (his current place of residence), accompanied by his devoted and loyal wife, Ruth.
Until recently, we were able to absorb historical stories told with great eloquence and modesty. Thus he simply sat and entertained us with his stories. The man who sat in the House of Lords in England tells his stories while sitting on an old bench in a remote grove on Mount Carmel.
David, in his great modesty, never announced that he was a professor of chemistry, who worked extensively on behalf of the state at the Weizmann Institute and founded the Institute for Brain Research there. I was privileged to receive from him the book he wrote on the subject, decorated with a respectful dedication, and I must admit that apart from the title I understood nothing. The singer Vera Lynn recorded a song called 'We Will Meet Again' which became a song of hope for soldiers at the front, who dreamed of returning home alive. During the war she performed for British soldiers in Egypt, India and Burma. Since our David enjoyed her singing, we will also listen to the recording from 1943 in a performance for the soldiers. Vera Lynn passed away peacefully at the age of one hundred and three, years of activity.
The canvas is too short to encompass David's work for science and for the State of Israel. After his retirement, he served as president of the Shenkar School of Engineering and Design.
We celebrated his ninetieth birthday in Haifa on Pevzner Street, with the honorary presence of the Haifa Municipality administration. Shoresh member Uri Sharon, a veteran Haifa journalist, has written quite a few poems about which I have spoken and will speak more, and this is his greeting to David:
90 ml of water | Uri Sharon
A. H.
The boy turned 90, and when thousands of shells were fired
And his appearance is sharp as a razor. There in fierce world battles
The hair of his head blooms profusely, from head to toe –
And every bald man envied him. He was among the forces of the alliance.
B' ninth'
His life story is so fascinating; and when cannons were heard,
The years of his deeds are long. And even the mourners fell silent,
Even if we sit here until nightfall, be ready and ripe.
Time will be short for praise. To upgrade as a governor.
third' Y.
His grandfather was so privileged, then he returned to the institute.
And David probably wouldn't be angry out there in the streets, right?
If it is said: "Don't say a word," and surely he also knew
Because before you here is the Lord. He will be a man of science.
D. 11
Although he was not born in Russia, and what is more important and convenient
But did he receive a Prussian education to learn all the intricacies of the brain?
From Arthur Byram, the manager. He had this principle:
But that's over, thank God. He'll specialize in memory.
Thursday 12
And what will he remember, if asked? To know more! Not later!
How did he wipe the leaves, what exactly? Well, who remembers?!
of the flowers in the garden. And he set up a department there;
And Arthur Byram in the corner… he's come a long way.
Friday 13
When he studied there at the "Reali", here he is, with his name engraved,
He must have thought: "What's good, what's bad for me," and Ruth sits next to him.
But he must have been diligent, and they are both in our sights,
Because of his strict teacher. And who among us wouldn't be jealous?
7th 14th
Learn at Oxford what chemistry is, a bundle of wishes on a holiday
And to one he said, "Be wise." To David, to the very top of the roof.
But she was in her own head, may life smile upon you
And finally – a prime minister. Well past the age of 90!
Ruth, the devoted wife, blesses her champion:
Uncle Tzach and Red Great from Merv
His head is a golden stain, his locks are curls.
Black, black, black as a crow
My beloved uncle and friend, Lord of Carmel
My 90-year-old boy is so young in mind and spirit
So perfect in his manners and smile.
You came to me like a knight on a white horse.
To whom my soul has longed all these years
And together we gallop in love and joy
In a great relationship.
My beloved champion, continue to be so sweet,
Beloved and loving, a little naive yet smart and intelligent
Modest in manner, yet striking in beauty, your length and splendor
Come on,
Let's keep riding like this until we're a hundred and twenty!
In 2014, our friend Lord David Herbert Samuel passed away. I read parts of what is written here at his grave, and so we said goodbye to a man of many actions, whose extraordinary memory allowed us to hear stories firsthand and from the… very distant past.
On behalf of all my 'Shoresh' friends, I am proud to have met such a hardworking, humble and modest man. We bow our heads to his memory and are proud to have shared parts of his past. Lord David Herbert Samuel was born 08.07.1922 and died 08.10.2014.
Tanzvah.
Ilan Segal on behalf of the 'Shoresh' group.