Lot 172
Embroidered Cloth-Badge of the "Chizbatron" – Palmach Entertainment Troupe
Embroidered cloth-badge, "Chizbatron – Palmach". [Eretz Israel, late 1940s].
A badge in the shape of military-badges, with the Palmach emblem (two stalks of grains and a sword) with a mask and the embroidered writing "Chizbatron-Palmach". The "Chizbatron" was the entertainment and song troupe of the Palmach, active during the years 1948-1950 and is considered the first military entertainment group founded in Israel. The band was founded during the Independence War by the late songwriter Haim Hefer (then Haim Feiner). Hefer was inspired by a book named "Red Star in China's Sky" which tells the story of a military entertainment band in China. The band accompanied the military route of Mau Tse –tung who gained control over China in the late 1940s and contributed to the morale of the soldiers and to their identification with the communist ideology.
Hefer was deeply impressed by this book and decided to apply the idea to the Palmach. Hefer turned to Yigal Alon, Palmach commander, who approved of founding a band realizing how important such a band could be for the soldiers. Hefer was the commander of the band and wrote most of its songs. The name of the band is a combination of the words "Chizbat" (a tale) and "Teatron" (theater), reflecting the band's spirit. The band consisted of a group of young actors and singers and an accordion player; amongst the artists were Shaike Ophir (then Yesha'ayahu Goldstein), Naomi Polany, Gideon Singer, Shlomo Bar Shavit, Yoel Zilberg, Rivka Mednik (Kremer), Ohela Halevy, Elyakum Shapira and Shmuel Rosen. Haim Hefer was the commander of the band and the writer of most of its songs.
The director of the band during most of its existence was Shmuel Bunim. Many of the band's songs which express the spirit of the period and the Palmach, turned to be valuable assets of Hebrew songs.
It seems that this badge was used for official performances of the Chizbatron, and it probably served the band's members only on special occasions. In any case, the limited number of members and the short time span of the band's existence imply that only a limited number of badges have been produced. 7X6 cm. Good condition.
