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Agent in Beirut
| Shula Cohen spent seven years in a prison in
Beirut, Lebanon because she was an Israeli spy. Only now can Shula Cohen tell the story of
how she became a secret agent. In 1947, Shula began to work in her husband’s shop
in Beirut. She overheard some Arabs from the village talking about plans to attack Israel.
Shula knew this information was important. She decided to ask a client to smuggle a letter
to an imaginary aunt in Jerusalem.
In the letter Shula hid information about the Arab attack. After a week Shula received
an answer. The answer made it clear to Shula how important the information was to the
Jewish people. Contact between Shula and the Jews in the "Yishuv" had been
established.
What kind of message could Shula Cohen have hidden in a letter to Jerusalem? See if you
can guess what she wanted to say?
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My dearest Aunt
Medina,
I am so happy to hear that you are well after your illness. I am happy you are planning a
birthday party for all the family. We will be happy to come to Uncle Israel’s 70th birthday party. Aunt Jordana
and uncle Whitey will be arriving by car. They
will leave on Tuesday morning and arrive Wednesday night. I do hope you will be able to meet them on the
road and show them the way to your
house. The family here is sending some large presents with them for the party with some
lovely surprises.
All our love,
Cousin Shula
Shula Cohen was honored by Mrs. Navon at the
President’s house. Shula was the only one who did not speak. She was honored for
"her services to the Jewish people." Shula had helped thousands of Jews from
Syria and
Iraq come through Lebanon to Israel. She found escape routes for them by land, sea and
air. She was able to work for fourteen years before she was caught. That was quite a job
when you think that Eli Cohen, "our man in Damascus," a professional spy, was
only able to work for two years. Today Shula Cohen lives a quiet life working in a gift
shop in Jerusalem.
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Adapted from "Israel’s Mata Hari"
by Ruth Seligson
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