Hasamba
Encyclopedia
Hasamba is a series of children's adventure novels, written by Yigal Mossinson
. The stories are a chronicle of the heroic exploits of a group of children from Tel-Aviv as they assist the underground Haganah
in its struggle for Israel statehood against the British
. Subsequent books revolve around assisting the security forces, including the IDF
, against Israel's external and internal enemies. It became the most popular series of pocket books ever written in Israel (over a million copies sold), and part of the Israeli culture.
and the struggle for statehood of Israel, and then as they battle their country's enemies: infiltrators, spies, criminals and other offenders. The group has taken active part in the wars of Israel during the period the series has been written (until 1994). Though suspenseful, the writing is entertaining, with humor, as well as with related science, history, and trivia information, provided by knowledgeable participating characters. It emphasizes kindness, good behavior, loyalty, friendship, dedication, courage, and love to Israel.
Yaron Zahavi (the handsome guy) and his deputy, Tamar (the pretty girl), are the first leaders of Hasamba. In later books (where they are supposed to be much older) they are replaced by the younger Yoav Tzur and his deputy, Rachel. The other heroes are replaced as well. Years later Yaron and Tamar get married, and their son Uri joins Hasamba in book number 25.
In the books they face dangerous and smart enemies. They fight them, occasionally become captives, but outsmart the enemies and get free, sometimes with help of allies, and finally win. But not always a happy end: Two of the first-generation heroes, Eliahu Hermon and Refael Kaduri die, sacrificing their lives for important causes.
Their secret meeting place is a real location in Tel Aviv, known as "The Electric Cave", which upon returning from a long stay abroad, the author discovered to be destroyed for the sake of building the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel. High-tech inventions, sometimes preceding the technology available when written about, plays role in the stories. This includes the Electric cave, an intelligent robot, "Zagloba," that helps the group in some adventures, a laser rifle, and more (Yigal Mossinson
himself was the inventor of patent
s).
, now a well known Israeli journalist, and the son of a famous Israeli actor, and the other characters, like "Tamar", "Fat Ehud", "Skinny Uzi", or "Menashe the Yemeni
" and others, were created based on the children of Kibbutz
Na'an
(and to whom the books were dedicated: "To the children of Na'an, the yellow (blond), the black, and the red-headed"), where the author, Yigal Mossinson
, lived from 1938 to 1950.
Also the enemies are people with names and characters, like the antisemitic British police detective sergeant Jack Smith the "Red beetle," the dangerous thief Elimelech Zurkin, and the ruthless mercenary-saboteur Von-Bilov.
, was first published in 1950 and was extremely popular (over a million copies sold in Israel; "national acclaim"), and a model for many children at that time for courage and conduct. The first book, about the group establishment and their initial adventures during the British mandate
in Israel was Hasamba - Havurat sod muchlat be hechlet (Hasamba - The Absolutely Absolute Secret Group). Tens of books followed, adventures in the young State of Israel
(established in 1948) and in later times, a total of 44 Hasamba books written until the author died in 1994. Mossinson started to write Hasamba after his elder son, Ido, asked him to write for him new Tarzan
books. Mossinson preferred to write original books. His son Ido died in 1973 in the Yom Kippur War
.
Some of the books were made into films:
In 1998 a theatrical musical (Hasamba) was produced.
In 2004 an Israeli stamp for Hasamba was issued in a group of stamps depicting most popular early Israeli youth adventure books.
Hasamba has been also produces as a play by the Orna Porat Theater for Children and Youth
and is being played in many places in Israel.
New printings of the books in a paperback
format (the first were hardcover
; same pages and drawings) continue to appear.
Yigal Mossinson
Yigal Mossinson was an Israeli novelist, playwright, and inventor...
. The stories are a chronicle of the heroic exploits of a group of children from Tel-Aviv as they assist the underground Haganah
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
in its struggle for Israel statehood against the British
British Mandate
British Mandate may refer to:*British Mandate for Palestine*British Mandate of Mesopotamia...
. Subsequent books revolve around assisting the security forces, including the IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
, against Israel's external and internal enemies. It became the most popular series of pocket books ever written in Israel (over a million copies sold), and part of the Israeli culture.
Plot summary
A group of girls and boys set up a secret society called "Hasamba"; their adventures take place, first during the British MandateBritish Mandate
British Mandate may refer to:*British Mandate for Palestine*British Mandate of Mesopotamia...
and the struggle for statehood of Israel, and then as they battle their country's enemies: infiltrators, spies, criminals and other offenders. The group has taken active part in the wars of Israel during the period the series has been written (until 1994). Though suspenseful, the writing is entertaining, with humor, as well as with related science, history, and trivia information, provided by knowledgeable participating characters. It emphasizes kindness, good behavior, loyalty, friendship, dedication, courage, and love to Israel.
Yaron Zahavi (the handsome guy) and his deputy, Tamar (the pretty girl), are the first leaders of Hasamba. In later books (where they are supposed to be much older) they are replaced by the younger Yoav Tzur and his deputy, Rachel. The other heroes are replaced as well. Years later Yaron and Tamar get married, and their son Uri joins Hasamba in book number 25.
In the books they face dangerous and smart enemies. They fight them, occasionally become captives, but outsmart the enemies and get free, sometimes with help of allies, and finally win. But not always a happy end: Two of the first-generation heroes, Eliahu Hermon and Refael Kaduri die, sacrificing their lives for important causes.
Their secret meeting place is a real location in Tel Aviv, known as "The Electric Cave", which upon returning from a long stay abroad, the author discovered to be destroyed for the sake of building the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel. High-tech inventions, sometimes preceding the technology available when written about, plays role in the stories. This includes the Electric cave, an intelligent robot, "Zagloba," that helps the group in some adventures, a laser rifle, and more (Yigal Mossinson
Yigal Mossinson
Yigal Mossinson was an Israeli novelist, playwright, and inventor...
himself was the inventor of patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s).
Characters
The main character, the handsome leader Yaron Zahavi, was inspired by Yaron LondonYaron London
-Biography:London was born in Tel Aviv in 1940 to actor Bezalel London .London studied in the Herzliya Hebrew High School and later left it for the agricultural boarding school HaKfar HaYarok. In 1961, after his service in the IDF, he moved to Jerusalem to study graphics at Bezalel Academy of Art...
, now a well known Israeli journalist, and the son of a famous Israeli actor, and the other characters, like "Tamar", "Fat Ehud", "Skinny Uzi", or "Menashe the Yemeni
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
" and others, were created based on the children of Kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
Na'an
Na'an
Na'an is a kibbutz near the city of Rehovot in Israel. Located within the Central District, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council and borders the villages of Ganei Hadar, Ramot Meir and Sitria....
(and to whom the books were dedicated: "To the children of Na'an, the yellow (blond), the black, and the red-headed"), where the author, Yigal Mossinson
Yigal Mossinson
Yigal Mossinson was an Israeli novelist, playwright, and inventor...
, lived from 1938 to 1950.
Also the enemies are people with names and characters, like the antisemitic British police detective sergeant Jack Smith the "Red beetle," the dangerous thief Elimelech Zurkin, and the ruthless mercenary-saboteur Von-Bilov.
History and spin-offs
The series, by Yigal MossinsonYigal Mossinson
Yigal Mossinson was an Israeli novelist, playwright, and inventor...
, was first published in 1950 and was extremely popular (over a million copies sold in Israel; "national acclaim"), and a model for many children at that time for courage and conduct. The first book, about the group establishment and their initial adventures during the British mandate
British Mandate
British Mandate may refer to:*British Mandate for Palestine*British Mandate of Mesopotamia...
in Israel was Hasamba - Havurat sod muchlat be hechlet (Hasamba - The Absolutely Absolute Secret Group). Tens of books followed, adventures in the young State of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
(established in 1948) and in later times, a total of 44 Hasamba books written until the author died in 1994. Mossinson started to write Hasamba after his elder son, Ido, asked him to write for him new Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
books. Mossinson preferred to write original books. His son Ido died in 1973 in the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
.
Some of the books were made into films:
- In 1971 the book (number 5) Hasamba Ve-Na'arei hahefker (Hasamba and the deserted youths).
- In 1985 the book (number 3) Hasamba Ve-Shodedey Ha-Susim (Hasamba and the horse robbers).
In 1998 a theatrical musical (Hasamba) was produced.
In 2004 an Israeli stamp for Hasamba was issued in a group of stamps depicting most popular early Israeli youth adventure books.
Hasamba has been also produces as a play by the Orna Porat Theater for Children and Youth
Orna Porat
-Biography:Porat was born Irene Klein in Cologne, Germany, in 1924. Her father was a Catholic and her mother a Protestant, but she chose atheism and socialism in her youth. In 1934 her family moved to Porz, where she attended high school...
and is being played in many places in Israel.
New printings of the books in a paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
format (the first were hardcover
Hardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
; same pages and drawings) continue to appear.