MACHAL, the Hebrew acronym for "mitnadvei hutz laAretz" or "volunteers from abroad," consisted of about 3500 men and women from over 40 countries who volunteered to fight for Israel in the 1948 War of Independence. Most had recently returned from fighting in World War II. Approximately 1500 "Machalniks" came from Canada and the United States and provided service in all aspects of military operations. Prior to the War of Independence, these volunteers served on "illegal" and decrepit ships that brought Holocaust survivors from Europe toward Palestine and were nearly all intercepted by the British Navy and interned in Cyprus. They entered Israel within days after the Israel declaration of statehood. Professor Samuel Klausner, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Penn and a "Machalnik" himself, will discuss the history of Machal, the varying backgrounds of the volunteers, and the role of foreign volunteers and assistance in the 1948 War. RESPONDENT: Professor Ian Lustick, Bess W. Heyman Chair in Political Science, University of Pennsylvania Sponsored by David, C'71,and Patricia, CW'72, Silvers.