SHLOMO HILLEL
Pioneer, Leader, Patriot By Dr. Mordecai Naor
Shlomo Hillel (1923-2021) was, as told in these biographic pages, a "dedicated emissary" all his life, from his youthful days in the Herzliya Gymnasium in the 1930s to his final day in the early 2020s. He was sent by no man. He sent himself and placed himself, more than once, in the midst of harm's way. He was then, against his will, sucked into the political fray. He embarked on pioneering work in the service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the nascent African countries. He took upon himself still more missions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the United Nations and in handling the Arab population in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the Six-Day War. From 1969 onward and for over twenty years in five Parliaments, he had his place at the government table and in the Knesset, where he also served a term as Speaker.
In each and every role he fulfilled, the sense of public and national mission was always on top of his mind. Even after he ended his political career, when many expected him to step back and enjoy his retirement, he chose to continue to serve, to contribute.
Thus one can follow his active participation - in his seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth decades-strengthening the bonds between the State of Israel and the jewish People in Keren haYesod-the United Israel Appeal. where he was World Chairman for a decade; and for an even longer period-28 years as President of the Council for Conservation of Heritage Sites in Israel. This is a role he filled until literally his last day.
Shlomo Hillel had a proactive mind of rare quality. He never dwelt on the insignificant: he always sought to set his sights on a higher place. It was only thus that he achieved his many accomplishments, both in israel and beyond. And no matter when, he was always a faithful lover of the people and the land. The People of Israel owe him a great debt of honor.
Yehuda Dekel (1929-2008), a Palmach Fighter from the Third Battalion, a member of the Scouts Daphna Training and one of the founders of Kibbutz Yir'on in the Upper Galilee. Fought in Israel's wars and ended his reserve military service as an Armored Corps Battalion Commander in the October 1973 war, ranking Lieutenant Colonel.
His large family, the Davidovich-Daklo Family, was among the founders of Herzliya, Family members held important positions in the city. Yehuda Dekel was one of Herzliya's firstborn. He graduated from the Mikve Israel Agricultural School and held a Master's Degree from
the Hebrew University in Agricultural Sciences. One of the builders of the Lachish Region, he was one of the Negev planners and the developers of Jerusalem, Gush Etzion and the Jordan Valley. Yehuda served as Director-General of the Settlement Department in the Jewish Agency between 1981 and 1989. He led the industrial and tourism development in rural communities. Father of the Bed & Breakfast industry in the Moshavim. Expanded varietal wine planting and established new wineries. Founded the Agricultural Research and Development Department.
Yehuda Dekel maintained years-long close ties with Shlomo Hillel, the subject of this book. He knew Shlomo from back when he was Yehuda's counselor in the Scouts in the 1940s. Yehuda brought him to the Council for Conservation of Heritage Sites in Israel as its President while he was serving as Chairman of its Executive Committee.
In 2006 Yehuda was one of the torch lighters on Independence Day.
In early 2014 the Brotherhood Museum was inaugurated at Koah Fort in the Upper Galilee a museum founded by Yehuda Dekel and his companions and to which he devoted many years for its realization. The Council for Conservation of Heritage Sites in Israel and the Dekel Family joined forces and established a commemorative project for his name and for his heritage- the Yehuda Dekel Library