Sarah Aaronsohn facts for kids
Sarah Aaronsohn (Hebrew: שרה אהרונסון; 5 January 1890 – 9 October 1917) was a brave young woman who became a spy for the British during World War I. She was a key member of a secret group called Nili, which was made up of Jewish spies. Sarah was also the sister of a famous plant expert, Aaron Aaronsohn. Many people remember her as the "heroine of Nili" because of her courage.
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Aaronsohn
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| Born | January 5, 1890 Zikhron Ya'akov, Haifa District, Ottoman Syria
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| Died | October 9, 1917 (aged 27) Zikhron Ya'akov, Haifa District, Ottoman Syria
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| Nationality | Ottoman Syrian (Israeli) |
| Occupation | Spy |
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Contents
Who Was Sarah Aaronsohn?
Sarah Aaronsohn was born in a place called Zikhron Ya'akov. At that time, it was part of Ottoman Syria. Her parents were Zionists from Romania. This means they were part of a movement to create a Jewish homeland. They were among the first Jewish settlers to come to the area, arriving during a time known as the First Aliyah. They even helped start the village where Sarah was born.
Sarah was very smart and loved to learn. Her brother Aaron encouraged her to study languages. She became fluent in Hebrew, Yiddish, Turkish, and French. She also knew some Arabic and taught herself English.
In 1914, Sarah married Haim Abraham, a wealthy merchant from Bulgaria. They lived for a short time in Istanbul. However, their marriage was not happy, and Sarah returned home to Zikhron Ya'akov in December 1915.
Why Did Sarah Become a Spy?
On her journey back home from Istanbul to Haifa, Sarah saw terrible things happening to the Armenian people. She witnessed many Armenians suffering greatly. This experience deeply affected her. What she saw made her determined to help. She decided she wanted to assist the British forces. She hoped they could help bring change to the region.
Sarah's Secret Spy Work
Sarah, along with her sister Rivka, her brothers Aaron and Alexander Aaronsohn, and their friend Avshalom Feinberg, created a secret spy group called Nili. This group worked to gather information for the British.
Sarah was in charge of the spy operations in the area of Palestine. She would collect important information and then pass it on to British agents who were offshore. Sometimes, she would travel far across Ottoman lands to gather details. She even brought this information directly to the British in Egypt.
In 1917, her brother Alex suggested she stay in British-controlled Egypt. He was worried about the dangers from the Ottoman authorities. But Sarah was brave and determined. She returned to Zikhron Ya'akov to keep Nili's work going. Nili grew into the biggest pro-British spy network in the Middle East. It had about 40 spies working together.
Sarah's Legacy
Sarah Aaronsohn is remembered as a very important figure. She was one of the first Jewish-Zionist women to bravely give her life for her nation. This was a new kind of heroism in the history of the Zionist movement in Palestine.
People started making annual trips to her tomb in Zikhron's cemetery in 1935. After the Six-Day War in 1967, the memory of Sarah Aaronsohn and the Nili group became a big part of Israel's stories of heroes. The Labor Party officially recognized her bravery. Her story is also celebrated in many children's books.
See also
