Hannah Senesh

Hannah Senesh, a star that lights the way for us, volunteered for a rescue mission in Europe during World War II. Hanna was captured, tortured and executed by firing squad in Budapest, Hungary on November 7, 1944 at the age of 23. Her legacy, which was published after her death, includes a personal diary, a collection of poems, a play, letters, photographs and various documents.

As far back as the fifties, the members of Kibbutz Sdot Yam established a Culture Center in memory of Hannah called ''Beit Hannah'', which to this day serves as the Kibbutz library. The place consists of a memorial hall with an audio-visual presentation, a study center for school children, an archive, a modest display of her literary legacy, and as stated above, the Kibbutz library. Along the years, the number of visitors both local and from abroad increased and it has become necessary to develop and expand the center, both in educational and value-development scope and in a physical sense.


There are stars whose radiance is visible on earth
though they have long been extinct.
There are people whose brilliance continues to light the world
though they are no longer among the living.
These lights are particularly bright when the night is dark.
They light the way for mankind.


          (from the writing of Hannah Senesh)