Hannah Szenes

We named our daughter Hannah after this Heroine.
We asked Earl for a girl's name that he liked and he mentioned Hannah, and told us her story.



By Jesse Lyman

Hannah szenes (pronounced Senesh), the daughter of a well-known writer (Bela Szenes, who died when Hannah was six) was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1921. Their mother Catherine raised Hannah and her brother George in a well assimilated home. In their home Judaism was never emphasized. At the early age of thirteen, Hannah started to write a diary when she turned thirteen and wrote in it until her death. In her diary it stated the concern of anti-Semitism in Budapest.

At the age of ten Hanna left her school and went to a high class at a protestant school, her family had to pay triple of what the normal price of school was. This did not stop Hanna’s mother from putting her in a normal school. Hannah was a very smart student and was at the top of her class, but since discrimination of the Jews in Budapest Hannah could not continue to be the top unless she converted to Christianity. Hanna and her family were assimilated middle class Jews. Hanna did not learn much about Judaism throughout her childhood. "The thought that now occupies my every waking moment is Palestine. Everything in connection with it interests me, everything else is entirely secondary." Hannah wrote this in her journal.

Anti-Semitism grew in Hungary and by the age of seventeen Hanna was informed she could not take office. Hanna did not know if she should fight for her rights or sit in peace. She was told a Jew could not hold the presidency.

“Only now am I beginning to see what it really means to be a Jew in a Christian society, but I don't mind at all. It is because we have to struggle, because it is more difficult for us to reach our goal, that we develop outstanding qualities. Had I been born a Christian, every profession would be open to me." Hanna wrote in her journal one day. Hanna thought about converting to Christianity in order to take office, but instead of converting Hanna took a deeper interest in Judaism.
Hannah and George started to become involved in many Zionism activities. She was involved with a group called the Maccabea, which was the most established Zionist organization in Hungary. They both immigrated to Israel in 1939 right after her eighteenth birthday. Hannah settled down in Kibbutz Sdot Yam, where she wrote poetry and studied at an agricultural school.

When World War two began in Europe Hannah soon began to worry about the well being of her country and her remaining family in Budapest. Hannah was a very brave girl, and wanted to help her country. On the date of 1943, Szenes joined the British army and volunteered to be parachuted down into Europe. Szenes trained in Europe and was one of thirty-three chosen to be parachuted behind enemy lines. The purpose of this attempt was to help allied efforts in Europe and establish contact with partisan fighters in attempt to aid Jewish communities. Szenes was parachuted in Yugoslavia in 1944.

On June 7th 1944 Szenes bravely crossed the border into Hungary and was almost immediately caught by the Hungarian police. They tortured Hannah for months but she refused to give them any information. Szenes was then brought to trial and was reported guilty. When her execution took place she refused to be blindfolded for she wanted to look her enemies straight in the eyes. Hannah died at the age of twenty-three.

In 1950, Hannah’s remains were buried on Mount Herzl in the city of Jerusalem in Israel.

O Lord, My G-d,
I pray that these things never end.
The sand and the sea,
The rush of the Water,
The crash of the heavens,
The prayer of woman and man

“Eli,Eli” Was a poem written by Hannah Szenes and has become a popular folk song and poem all over the world.

Blessed is the match that burned and kindled flames,
Blessed is the flame that set hearts on fire.
Blessed are the hearts that knew how to die with honor,
Blessed is the match that burned, and kindled flames.

Another poem written by Hannah, called blessed is the match.

On November 5, 1993, Hanna’s family that is living now received a copy of the Hungarian military report of Hanna’s court order exonerating Hanna’s treason charges in which she was executed. Yitzchak Rabin attended the Tel-Aviv ceremony, where the document was handed over to the family.

Hanna really lived a brief but a very noteworthy life, and I think its fair to say Hanna was a true hero for everyone.