Sarah Aharonson, Heroine

The Aharonson family lived in Zikhron Yaakov, a Jewish colony in Turkish Palestine. Aharon Aharonson, agronomist, travelled through the country and had ample opportunity to observe Turkish military movements. During World War I, Aharon understood that his information was important to the British army, and thus he formed the Nilli spy ring, five people including Aharon’s young sister Sarah. The group spied for the British voluntarily, believing that the Jewish community must help liberate the land from the Turks. They paid dearly for their deeds: two were hanged in Damascus. Aharon lived to see victory but was later killed in an aircrash. Avshalom Feinberg died in the Sinai desert, trying to contact the British. Sarah was captured by the Turks and killed herself when she could no longer stand the torture.