Bialik, recognized as Israel’s national poet, was born in Ukraine and moved to Palestine in 1924. After interviewing survivors of the 1903 Kishinev Pogrom, he wrote “Be-Ir ha-Haregah” (“In the City of Slaughter”), in which he condemned Jewish passivity against threats. The poem inspired the creation of Zionist youth organizations across the Diaspora. His poetry continues to provide lyrics for Israeli singers.
Photo: Zoltan Kluger, National Photo Collection of Israel