Enzo Sereni was an Italian Socialist Zionist, co-founder of kibbutz Givat Brenner, celebrated intellectual, advocate of Jewish-Arab co-existence and a Jewish Brigade officer who was parachuted into Nazi-occupied Italy during World War II, captured by the Germans and executed in Dachau concentration camp.
12 Facts About Enzo Sereni
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2.
Enzo Sereni's father was physician to the King of Italy.
3.
Enzo Sereni married his high school sweetheart Ada Sereni in 1926, who would continue his work after his passing.
4.
Enzo Sereni worked in orange groves in Rehovot and soon helped found kibbutz Givat Brenner.
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Enzo Sereni was a pacifist, who advocated Jewish co-existence with the Arabs, and integration of Jewish and Arab society.
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Enzo Sereni helped to organize the Hechalutz movement in Nazi Germany and was involved in helping to smuggle money and people out of Germany.
7.
Enzo Sereni was sent to the United States to help organize the Zionist movement there.
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The British sent him to Iraq, and Enzo Sereni spent part of his time organizing clandestine aliyah.
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In 1942, Enzo Sereni became one of the first Jewish emissaries from Palestine to Iraq and visited Sandur, a Jewish village in northern Iraq and described it in detail.
10.
Enzo Sereni got in trouble with his British superior officers for his Zionist views and was imprisoned briefly for forging passports.
11.
Enzo Sereni then helped organize the Jewish parachute unit of the British Special Operations Executive that sent agents into occupied Europe.
12.
Kibbutz Netzer Enzo Sereni is named after him, as are many streets throughout Israel.