Ralph Lowenstein — March 8th, 1930 – August 10th, 2020.
A Machal volunteer and tireless archivist of the North American volunteers’ story, with a long list of accomplishments. His study-abroad trip to England in 1948 was his ruse for joining the defense of the newly declared State of Israel against the invading Arab armies. In the summer of 1948 he boarded the Pan York from Marseilles, France, together with 2,800 Holocaust survivors. Driving a halftrack in Israel’s north, he served in the 7th Armored Brigade, 79th Battalion, which cleared the entire north-central Galilee of Syrian, Lebanese and Iraqi troops.
He went on to serve as Dean of the School of Journalism at the University of Florida. Dedicated to spreading knowledge about the American volunteers of 1948, he created the American Veterans of Israel archives and an Aliyah Bet & Machal Museum at the university, and built the original AVI website (israelvets.com).
Some AVILC members shared their thoughts on hearing of his passing:
“Ralph was among our best as Machal historian, archivist, friend and comrade-in-arms. Alav Hashalom.” — Si Spiegelman
“He was truly a wonderful gentleman, from whom I learned a lot, and I truly enjoyed spending time with him during all of his trips to New York for our events. His hard work on the Machal Museum will help keep his memory, and that of all the rest of the Veterans, alive. He will be greatly missed!” — Donna Kantey
“AVI has lost a special man. Without Ralph, there probably would not be an AVI archive. May his memory be for a blessing.” — Paul and Susan Kaye
“Ralph was our very first Machal interview when I was inspired to start production on 4 Million Bullets: The Untold Fight for Survival in February of 2016. I am indebted to Si for the introduction to this American hero for Israel. Ralph’s contributions and his engaging interview will be a legacy to future generations of Jews and Christians.” — Jeff Hoffman, producer of Unlikely Heroes
Read more:
- The Gainesville Sun — Ralph Lowenstein, longtime UF journalism dean and leader, dies at 90
- World Machal Website — A Soldier’s Story (autobiographical)