The State of Israel and Eliyahu [Elijah] Mizrahi were born in the same year, 1948. While the state was fighting for its right to exist as a Jewish nation in the Middle East, my mother decided to give birth. Due to the War of Independence in Jerusalem, it was not possible to reach Hadassah Hospital, which was controlled by Jordanian soldiers. While the city of Jerusalem was experiencing war and suffering, my mother too was in hard labor at home for many hours, with her female neighbors helping her. Long and tense hours passed before I was finally born. Am Israel Chai [the people of Israel live] and I live too!

I spent my childhood in the divided city of Jerusalem, playing with children and strolling among houses shattered by war. An imposing wall divided the eastern side of Jerusalem from us. Through the wall’s crevices we peaked into an unknown, menacing and frightening land. From time to time, Jordanian snipers shot innocent civilians on our side. The young country that had just been established, immediately found...