The Burma Road

November 1947, the United Nations voted to establish two states in Palestine: one Jewish, the other Arab. Jerusalem was to remain a united, international city, independent of either proposed state. In spite of this decision, by early 1948 the Jewish sector of Jerusalem found itself under siege by Arab forces and suffered shelling and bombardment for many weeks. Eventually, Israeli forces secured a narrow strip of mountainous land (the Burma Road), which connected the Jewish part of Jerusalem to the rest of Israel, and the siege was broken.



The story of the “Burma Road” has everything to do with the period of establishing the State in 1948.


Though the State of Israel had been declared in the U.N., the fate of that state was not assured. This battle, in the struggle for Jerusalem, was essential in order to allow the declaration to become more than words.


There were times in our nation building when all seemed so difficult if not impossible. There were times when it is appeared wiser to be “realistic” and to not take on impossible challenges. There were those who advised such realism in the face of impossible odds. But others understood that without an attempt to achieve the impossible or at least the improbable that the nation would not come to fruition. In other words there was not a choice. Such is the story of the Burma Road. Such is the story of “Micky Marcus.” Such is the story of the Burma Road.

David Mickey Marcus

Some might see in this story something of the miraculous. If a miracle is succeeding against all odds, then indeed this is a miracle.

But there are measurable and non supernatural values that this site must raise for us.

*There is a Jewish Israeli value called “Ayn Bereira” (Nor other choice). This value has everything to do with this outnumbered, overpowered nation in the War of Independence.

*There is a value to be distinguished here of having to do with commitment to a greater cause that required seeing beyond what is normally defined as realistic.

*There is a value expressed here having to do with the phrase: “Im Itrzu Ayn Zo Agada” ( if you will it , it is not a dream) or nothing can stand before the will and commitment of determined people.

*The symbolic significance of Jerusalem to the emerging nation is a value that must emerge here.

*The meaning of compromise and where one draws the difficult line, as well as where and when flexibility must reign supreme is a value to be considered here.

All of the values that emerge from the experience of hiking and or visiting this site are rooted in Judaism and in Israel and contain crucial lessons for the lives of our tourists as well as young Israelis today. These are urgent and significant messages for the nation of Israel as it faces its future in the region

Source on biography of Mickey Marcus:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/marcus.html