Yad Mordekhai

There’s a story here. From May 19th to 24th, 1948, during Israel’s War of Independence, the 165 members of Kibbutz Yad Mordekhai withstood an attack by an Egyptian battalion of 2500. Although the kibbutz members eventually had to retreat to nearby Gvar’am, 300 Egyptians were killed, and this delay gave the Hagana time to regroup and save Tel Aviv. To commemorate this deed, the kibbutz has built a model of the battle on the original site, complete with soldiers, tanks, and weapons. A recorded explanation in several languages recounts the battle and various parts of the colossal reconstruction. The kibbutz is named after Mordekhai Anielewicz, leader of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. A museum (tel. (051) 205 28/9) illustrates the story of the Jewish resistance movement, concluding with exhibits about the establishment of the State of Israel and the battle for Yad Mordekhai. (Museum and battlefield open daily 8am-4pm. Admission NIS3-50, students NIS3.)

Bus #19 runs from Ashkelon to Yad Mordekhai Sunday through Thursday at noon and 6:05pm, and Friday at noon and 4:15pm (NIS4O5). Since the last bus returns at 3:10pm (Fri. 12:40pm.), you’ll have to take the noon bus if you don’t intend to stay. If you get stuck in the late afternoon, go back to the bus stop on the highway anyway: buses from Rafiah pass by, and you may get a ride.