An official typewritten letter to the Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, protesting the violation of the Sabbath during preparations for the first Army Day military parade. July, 1948. Hand-signed by members of the Provisional State Council: Zerach Warhaftig, Moshe Shapira, Yitzchak Meir Levin, Ze'ev Gold, and others.
"It is with great sorrow and deep pain that we hereby express our strong protest against the violation of our Holy Sabbath during works for the erection of the stage at the Exhibition Stadium, for the military parade to take place on the State holiday. This coarse offense against our Holy of Holies, in works executed in the service of the State, and in preparation for the first celebratory appearance of the Army of Israel, is a desecration of the honor of the State of Israel and its army, admired by us all. Not only is this violation an offense against the Torah, it is also a breach of the Sabbath Law, passed by the Provisional State Council and published in the Official Newspaper… we were thereby prevented from attending the parade, since its preparation involved a violation of the Sabbath… we demand that this issue be investigated immediately, and the perpetrators be punished…"
Signees: Yehuda Leib Fishman Maimon, Ze'ev Gold, David Zvi Pinkas, Moshe Shapira, Zerach Warhaftig, Yitzhak Meir Levin, Meir David Loewenstein, and Benjamin Mintz (the members of the Provisional State Council representing the Mizrachi, Hapoel Hamizrachi, and Agudat Yisrael parties). All except Yehuda Leib Fishman Maimon signed the letter by hand.
The nascent State of Israel’s first IDF military parade was held on Army Day, 27 July 1948 (20 Tammuz according to the Hebrew calendar - the date of Theodor Herzl’s death). On this day, the IDF first exhibited its power in a parade through Tel Aviv, down Allenby Street and Ben Yehuda Street, arriving at the stadium near the Yarkon riverside.
[1] leaf, 28 cm. Good condition. Folding marks and creases. Stains. Filing holes (torn).