Since ancient times, Biblical women were more than sidekicks in a patriarchal world, but spearheaded the nation, society, and family. From our national mothers: Sara, Rebeca, Rachel and Leah, all involved in all aspects of life; through the prophetess's Debora and Huldah, Michal and Bat-Sheva, Rahab the harlot, Yael who cunningly destroyed General Sisera (Judges 4-5), and Judith, who destroyed Holofernes the Assyrian General, all, in their wisdom, cunning, and even physical might, ruled families, kingdoms, societies and even armies, by tactics and strategies that would not shame any male general.
David Ben Gurion knew and appreciated the role and might of the Jewish/Israeli woman, in ancient times and in our days. In a letter sent to the Karaite leadership in February 1952 he emphasized that despite the verse "All glorious is the princess within her chamber" and women's modesty, women were always at the spearhead of doing: as a shepherd, a farmer, a judge, and a combatant. In his gentle way Ben Gurion objected to the notion that a woman should stay at home, stressing that just as the ancient heroines, women of our times should contribute to the world, in work and in the army. Step by step he proved from our ancient sources that ancient Israelite women participated in the nation's life from the beginning, ending by stating: "… all our sons and daughters should be able to defend themselves, their people, and country."
Due to his resolute notions about the equality of women within the nation, especially in the army, Ben Gurion objected to the word "auxiliary" as a part of the corps name. In her memories, Esther Herlitz discusses the issue: "I was one of two officers serving in the A.T.S (Auxiliary Territorial Service) and we established a women's battalion in besieged Jerusalem. The first 150 recruits received their uniforms from Jewish needle workers in New York. Being cut off from our headquarters in Tel Aviv we named ourselves A.T.S following the example of the British Army, and ordered headgear insignia with a cactus figure and these letters. Shortly afterwards a curt message arrived from Ben Gurion, that we are not "auxiliary" but a Women's' Corps. We received our new insignia, and the original "cactus" ones are stored in The IDF and Defense Establishment Archive."
The Women Army Corps, an independent corps addressing the special needs of women soldiers, while incorporating them with full equality with the IDF, was established in 1949, as the War of Independence was coming to a close.
For additional information about the Women Corps, and various other defense matters, you are invited to visit The IDF and Defense Establishment Archive
Tel: 03-7380500