Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Frank Lavine cites: "Both my parents come from the vicinity of Kovno, Lithuania. My father was a truck driver while my mother kept home and was later a seamstress. I have no formal Jewish education but spoke only Yiddish until I was six years old."

Frank Lavine was stationed at Chanute Field.

On February 25, 1947, President Warfield sailed from Baltimore, headed for the Mediterranean.
The cover story, if anyone asked, was that the ship was going to China, where it was to be sold.

Murray Aronoff served as Seaman/Deck Crew aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

In December, 1946, Bernard Marks, age 24 years.reported to the Baltimore shipyards to join the crew of President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.
He had been smuggled out of Palestine, first to Greece and then to the United States, and after he was back in Cincinnati for a few months, he was asked to serve on a second ship.
He served as First/Chief Mate aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

Sam Baer served as a Crew Member and Engineer aboard President Warfild Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

John Stanley Grauel served as Galley Crew aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

John Stanley Grauel's official cover was as a foreign correspondent for the Episcopal journal, The Churchman.
When President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז docked in Marseille, he flew to Paris, where he helped organize the transfer of Jewish refugees from DP camps to the port of embarkation on the southern coast of France.
When President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז sailed for Palestine, John Stanley Grauel took on the role of ship's cook, and also served as unofficial mediator between the crew and the passengers.

Eli Kalmanowitz Kalm, a Bronx native, served as Chief Steward aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

David 'Kochavi' Starec left his rabbinical studies at Yeshiva University to become an Orthodox rabbi, to serve as engine room crew aboard Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield.

Frank Lavine served as an able-bodied Seaman aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.
After his discharge from the United States Army, Frank Lavine received a call from New York asking if he would help Jews, and a short time later, he was on his way to Baltimore and President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.
He worked preparing the ship until she sailed for Europe.
During the voyage to Europe, Frank Lavine assisted with navigation, lookout and the fire watch.
After President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז arrived in Marseille, he was issued discharge papers, but, a planned, he and other crew, remained aboard, when the Maapilim were taken on board and sailed to Palestine.

Solomon 'Sol' M. Lester served as First/Second Engineering Officer aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

On March 29, 1947, 'Bill' Millman, age 21 years, served as Deck Crew aboard President Warfild Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.
He had been sent to Baltimore where the Weston Trading Co. a friend told him, worked at in getting emigrants to Palestine.
When he signed on as Helmsman and Bosun mate, and first saw the ship, 'Bill' Millman cites: "No lights, no heat, plenty of rats, It had a metal hull but the superstructure atop the hull was entirely made of wood. The boat was outfitted with 5,000 life jackets and 5,000 1-gallon tins of water and the crew set sail for the Azores."
He became involved in the illegal immigration movement for personal reasons.
'Bill' Millman cites: "I had my problems in the service because of the fact that I was Jewish, "I caught a lot of garbage. But I took care of myself. And when I came out (of the Navy), I didn't like what I saw and what I read about" what the Nazis had done. "I decided I would do something about it."

Avraham Sygal, a volunteer from Mexico, served as Engine Room Crew aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

Mike Weiss served as boatswain-carpenter aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

On March 22, 1947, President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז stopped at Paulsboro, New Jersey, to take on fuel and change captain.

Zeev Siegel served aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז, and received his naval training on board the ship.

Harry Weinsaft served as a Deck Crew aboard President Warfild Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.
Harry Weinsaft cited: “Since the world did not help us in World War II and after, we had to help ourselves. We broke every law to get our people home and would do it again.”

Cyril 'Cy' Weinstein, age 22 years, one of 40 young Jewish volunteers from the United States, served as Third Mate aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

On March 29, 1947, at 11:10AM, President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז sailed from Philadelphia.

On April 5, 1947, President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז stopped at Ponta Delgada, Azores Açores.

Kurt Baruch served as Engineer/Engine Room Crew aboard Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז when she sailed from Sète.
Joseph Hochstein cites: name as Kurt Baruch.
Exodus1947.org cites: name as Kort Baruch.

Azriel Einav served as Gidoni גדעוני, wireless radio operator, aboard Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז when she sailed from Sète.
When Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז was close to the shore of Palestine and surrounded by five British destroyers, he activated his equipment so that the whole story of the Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז was broadcast to the world in Hebrew, English, including a call to the United Nations. read by Reverend J. Grauel, and French.

Yossi Harel, who had come aboard at Portovenere, became the Haganah Commander מפקד aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.
יוסף הראל מפקד אוניית המעפילים אקסודוס יציאת אירופה תש"ז.
He was the subject of a biography in Hebrew by Yoram Kaniuk, 'Exodus: The Odyssey of a Commander' (1999), which has been translated into many languages.
Yoram Kaniuk, Yossi Harel's friend and biographer, cites: David Ben-Gurion and Shaul Avigur had marked him out as suitable to command the clandestine immigration ships because, in addition to his leadership skills and fighting prowess, “there was something very hevreman [sociable] about him. He was not the kind of clap-you-on-the-back hero. He was a man of manners, the type who didn't raise his voice. He was a man of conscience and a daring fighter.”
He rose to fame after the release of the 1960 Otto Preminger film Exodus, based on the Leon Uris novel of the same name, in which Paul Newman portrayed him.

Solomon 'Sol' M. Lester served as First/Second Engineering Officer aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

Micha Peri served as as Commander of the Maapilim, responsible for their care, aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

On July 11, 1947, Judah Abbecasis sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Polya Abramovich sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Mordechai 'Motke' Adler and his two sisters sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Ajzyk Ajnnberg Weinberg sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Zipora Akerman sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Mordekai and Chajka Aurbach sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Chaja Vera Auslender sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield,from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Josef Avigdor sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield,from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Gertruda Babilinska sailed, with Michael Stolowicki, age 11 years, on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Aryeh Birnbaum sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Chaim Birnbaum sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Sara Birnbaum sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Yitzhak Birnbaum sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Mosze Cukier sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Cwi Zvi Eisenberg sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Dov Frieberg sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Mordechai Fuks, age 27 years, Moses Fuks, age 11 years, and Hadassa Fuks, age 13 years, sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Benno Ginsburg sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Zevulun Gold, Nehama Gold and Pesia Gold, sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Avraham Goldband, his wife, Mania, son, Mendel,and morther-in-law, Esther Tager, having made their way from Föhrenwald DP camp to Marseille, sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Lina Goldberger sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield,from Sete for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Moshe Gutheit, age 9 years, sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Shlomo Hammer sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.
Shlomo Hammer cites: "My parents were murdered there (in the Ghetto). Everybody was murdered, only we children were smuggled away. I was hidden in a bunker. [...] I was hidden in the bunker, under the earth, for 9 months. [...] When the Russians , the Red Army, liberated us my face lit up with wonder. [...] We travelled to Cracow where I was placed in a children's home. I then travelled to Germany with a group of other children. I was a 10 year old orphan. [...] From Germany I travelled to France. That was an experience. We were told we were to travel to Palestine. We were taught for this goal. We started to learn in a real school. [...] We were educated to be able to live in Erez Israel, Aliya Beth, love of country. At this time, as I left the camp I no longer wanted to be a Jew. After the holocaust. [...]"
"We came to a camp near Marseille. [...] We arrived in France at night, and were roughly two days there before we were brought aboard the ship, again at night."

On July 11, 1947, Mosze Jacubowiez sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield,from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Rosa Jurer and her daughter, Cilia, sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

In July, 1947, Chanina Kam went to Marseille to embark on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז in an attempt to immigrate to Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Haim Kintzler sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield,from Sete for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Korohy Koffler, age 16 years, sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.
He told his parents he wanted to take a ten day trip with haShomer haTzair, and two weeks later, a haShomer haTzair member told his parents that Korohy was on his way to Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Jacob Kirsztajn sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Monjek Kuperberg sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Irene Parkinson, age 16 years, tried sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield, from Sète to join her mother, sister and brother in Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Itzhak Pressburger, age 13 years, sailed with his two sisters on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield, from Sete for Palestine.
Itzhak Pressburger cites: "We traveled for a week and reached Haifa. I was with the other children down below. It was like a cage. We were aware of the men fighting the British above on the deck," he recalls. "When I went up with the other Hungarians, we saw Haifa from far. We were told by others that we're not going to enter, but be sent to Cyprus."
"Nous étions en mer depuis une semaine lorsque nous sommes arrivés à Haïfa. J'étais tout au fond, avec les autres enfants. C'était comme une cage. Nous savions que les hommes combattaient les Britanniques en haut, sur le ponceau", se souvient Itzhak Pressburger. "Lorsque je suis remonté avec les autres Hongrois, nous pouvions apercevoir Haïfa, au loin."

On July 11, 1947, Moshe Rajchental sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Melach Schubert, his wife, Rosa, and his son Zeev, sailed from France on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

On July 11, 1947, Istvan Szeisen, Otto Nagyrona and Tamas Magyrona sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Schlama Sznaider sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Szlojme Szobe sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, David Szustor sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On the night of July 9-10, 1947 Sara Wiener boarded a covered trucks and traveled to Sète.
On July 11, 1947, Sara Wiener sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

 

On July 11, 1947, Emmanuel Zaubermann Zoberman sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Friede Zelman sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Schlomo Zemach sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Max Zifferblat sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Josef Zinger sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Frances sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield,from Sete for Palestine.
Before departing on the Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield, Frances, the only survivor of her immediate family, met Isak Greenberg, a fellow Holocaust survivor, in a displaced persons camp.
Despite his love for her, they parted ways because she was a Zionist and dreamed of going to Palestine, while he planned to go to America.

On July 11, 1947, Michael Pertzov and Pessia Baumstein Pertzov sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Eliezer Zuckerman Rimon sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

On July 11, 1947, Lida Zyto sailed on Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז from Sète for Palestine.

After the unsuccessful fight to prevent the British from boarding Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז, in which Frank Lavine was injured by British soldiers who beat him over the head, he, and some of the crew, captured, held prisoner for four hours, and forcibly transferred to the prison ship, HMT Ocean Vigour.

The Washington Times cites: "The night of July 18, 1947, the British Royal Navy rammed the boat and boarded it in international waters to keep it from entering Palestine. After a struggle with passengers and crew, three shipmates were killed, including one crew member."
After the British subdued Exodus 1947 אקסודוס passengers and crew, and a medical team was brought on board, Bernard Marks was introduced as Captain. He guided her into Haifa חיפה port.
During the disembarkation process he slipped away with the help of Haganah הגנה members posing as dock workers, and was taken to kibbutz Ein Hashofet קיבוץ עין השופט.
He was later discovered by the British and imprisoned briefly, before returning to the United States.

David 'Kochavi' Starec, age 18 years, stayed with the Maapilim on HMT Ocean Vigour.

Frank Lavine stayed with the Maapilim on HMT Ocean Vigour.
Frank Lavine cites: "After being driven off the prison ship “Ocean Vigour” by club swinging English troops in Hamburg, Germany, we were put on heavily guarded trains and taken to Poppendorf and Amstau internment camps. Most of us ended up in Poppendorf."

Meier Schwarz, who had been sent to Europe to usher refugees to the south of France to catch Haapalah boats to Israel, was smuggled aboard HMT Ocean Vigour, deporting the 4,500 Exodus 1947 Maapilm.
He served as Haganah הגנה Commander aboard HMT Ocean Vigour, on her voyage back to France.

Zeev Siegel was transported back to France on HMT Ocean Vigour, and was assigned by Yossi Harel the job of Escort מלווה, serving under Zvi Meeri Katznelson, head מלווה, to live with the Maapilim, and help maintain their morale and discipline.

Moses Fuks, age 11 years, and Hadassa Fuks, age 14 years, were transported back to France on HMT Ocean Vigour.

Zevulun Gold, Nehama Gold and Pesia Gold, were transported back to France on HMT Ocean Vigour.

Michael Pertzov and Pessia Baumstein Pertzov were transported back to France on HMT Ocean Vigour.
Berry Pinshow cites: Pessia Baumstein Pertzov gave birth to a daughter, Hana, in the ship's "hospital".

Disembarking Exodus 1947, Izhak Pressburger was put on the Transport Ship, HMT Ocean Vigour.
Itzhak Pressburger cites: "We then realized that instead of going northwest towards Cyprus, the ship was headed west towards France,"