Hasamba facts for kids
Hasamba (which means "The Absolutely Absolute Secret Group" in Hebrew) is a famous series of adventure books for young people. They were written by Yigal Mossinson. The stories are all about a brave group of kids from Tel Aviv. They help a secret group called the Haganah. This group was working to create the country of Israel. They were fighting against the British who ruled the land at the time.
Later books show the Hasamba group helping Israel's security forces. This includes the IDF, which is Israel's army. They help fight against enemies from outside and inside the country. Hasamba became the most popular series of pocket books ever in Israel. Over a million copies have been sold! It's a big part of Israeli culture.
Contents
What Are the Hasamba Stories About?
The Secret Group's Adventures
A group of boys and girls start a secret club called "Hasamba." Their adventures begin during the time when the British ruled the land. They help in the fight for Israel to become a country. After Israel is formed, the group battles its enemies. These include spies, criminals, and other bad guys.
The Hasamba group even takes part in Israel's wars. This happens in the books written up until 1994. The stories are full of suspense and excitement. But they are also very entertaining and funny!
Learning and Good Values
The books also share cool facts about science, history, and other interesting things. Smart characters in the group often share this knowledge. The stories teach important lessons. They show the value of kindness, good behavior, loyalty, and friendship. They also teach about being brave and loving your country, Israel.
Who Leads Hasamba?
The first leaders of Hasamba are Yaron Zahavi and Tamar. Yaron is the handsome leader, and Tamar is his smart deputy. In later books, they are much older. So, younger leaders take their place. Yoav Tzur becomes the new leader, with Rachel as his deputy. Other heroes in the group also change over time.
Years later, Yaron and Tamar get married. Their son, Uri, even joins Hasamba in book number 25!
Facing Dangerous Enemies
In the books, the Hasamba kids face very dangerous and clever enemies. They fight these bad guys. Sometimes, the kids even get captured! But they are always smart enough to trick their enemies and escape. Sometimes, friends help them get free. In the end, Hasamba always wins.
However, not every story has a completely happy ending. Two of the first heroes, Eliahu Hermon and Refael Kaduri, die. They give their lives to help important causes.
The Secret "Electric Cave"
The secret meeting place for Hasamba is a real place in Tel Aviv. It's known as "The Electric Cave." The author found out it was destroyed when he came back from a long trip. A big hotel, the Tel Aviv Hilton, was built there instead.
The stories also feature amazing high-tech inventions. Sometimes, these inventions were written about even before the technology really existed! This includes the Electric Cave itself. There's also an intelligent robot named "Zagloba." He helps the group in some adventures. A laser rifle is another cool invention. The author, Yigal Mossinson, was actually an inventor himself and had many patents!
Meet the Hasamba Characters
The Heroes of Hasamba
The main character is the brave leader, Yaron Zahavi. He was inspired by a real person, Yaron London. Yaron London is now a well-known journalist in Israel. He is also the son of a famous Israeli actor.
Other characters in the books were based on children from Kibbutz Na'an. A kibbutz is a special community in Israel. The author, Yigal Mossinson, lived there from 1938 to 1950. Characters like "Tamar," "Fat Ehud," "Skinny Uzi," and "Menashe the Yemeni" came from these kids. The books were even dedicated to them: "To the children of Na'an, the yellow (blond), the black, and the red-headed."
The Villains They Face
The enemies in the books also have names and personalities. One is a British police detective named Jack Smith. He was against Jewish people and was called the "Red beetle." There's also a dangerous thief named Elimelech Zurkin. Another enemy is a very mean and dangerous spy named Von-Bilov.
