The story of Purim is one of unlikely heroes – figures who stood up against the odds to defend the Jewish people, often at great personal risk. In that spirit, the life of Lt. Colonel John Henry Patterson, a non-Jewish British officer who became a fierce champion of Jewish self-defense, is a modern-day example of the courage and dedication we celebrate on this holiday.
Tucked beside Jerusalem’s Orient Hotel in the German Colony is a small street honoring Lt. Colonel John Henry Patterson. I was intrigued: who was this man and what did he do to merit a street name? By the time I finished researching his life, I had only one question: why is there only one street in the country named after this hero of Israel?
Patterson was a man of many talents—engineer, author, big-game hunter, and decorated soldier. But above all, he was a passionate Zionist. Patterson’s devotion to the Jewish people was so deep that his final wish was to be buried in Israel alongside the men he once commanded. That request was fulfilled 67 years after his passing when he and his wife were reinterred in Avichail, a moshav founded by his former soldiers.
During World War I, Patterson was appointed the commander of the British Army’s all-Jewish Zion Mule Corps and later the 38th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers – better known as the Jewish Legion. These were the first Jewish military units in 2,000 years. Patterson was chosen for these positions due to his biblical scholarship and knowledge of Jewish history, which led to his championing the Zionist cause.
During World War I, Patterson led the British Army’s all-Jewish Zion Mule Corps and later the 38th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers—better known as the Jewish Legion. He wasn’t just a commander of the first Jewish military units in nearly 2,000 years; he was a fierce advocate for his soldiers, standing up against the antisemitism rampant in the British army, even at the cost of his own promotions.
Patterson’s units fought with distinction. The Zion Mule Corps played a crucial role in the brutal Gallipoli campaign, while the Jewish Legion helped drive the Turks from Palestine under General Allenby. Many of Patterson’s men went on to become leaders of the Yishuv’s paramilitary forces, which were the predecessors of the modern Israel Defense Forces.
After the war, Patterson continued to dedicate himself to the Zionist cause, working closely with Ze’ev Jabotinsky. Jabotinsky, in awe of his dedication, once said, “Never in Jewish history has there been in our midst a Christian friend of his penetration and devotion.” Patterson later formed a deep friendship with Jabotinsky’s disciple Benzion Netanyahu, who named his first son Yonatan in honor of him and the baby’s grandfather Natan. That child, Yoni Netanyahu, grew up to become the legendary commander killed in the daring Entebbe rescue.
At John Henry Patterson’s reinternment ceremony in 2014, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated: “Patterson was the commander of the first Jewish fighting force in nearly two millennia. And as such, he can be called the godfather of the Israeli army.”
Just as Mordechai and Esther understood that Jewish survival depends on taking action, Patterson grasped the importance of Jewish self-defense long before the State of Israel existed. May we be inspired by his legacy, and by the heroes of Purim, to stand firm in the defense of our people and our homeland.
Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home (www.myisraelhome.com), a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel. To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@gmail.com.