Jerusalem’s Davidka Square: Legacy of a Makeshift Mortar from Israel’s War of Independence
- Mark Vogel
- Mar 10
- 5 min read
Updated: 9 minutes ago
Jerusalem, Israel ✈
During a recent trip to Jerusalem, Israel, I made a point of visiting the Davidka Memorial, located at Davidka Square. This site commemorates a weapon that played a key role during the 1948 War of Independence, even though it was far from advanced. The square is at a well-known intersection in downtown Jerusalem, just a short walk from the Machane Yehuda Market and located near the Davidka light rail station on Jaffa Street. It’s also close to King George Street, making it easy to reach by foot, taxi, or the Jerusalem Light Rail.
The Davidka Memorial sits in the center of the square, which is often used as a meeting point due to its central location. Though surrounded by the daily activity of a modern city - shops, commuters, street vendors, and the hum of the light rail - it preserves the memory of a much harder time, when Jerusalem’s defenders had to rely on ingenuity rather than firepower.
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“For those interested in military history or the story of Israel’s early years, this is a worthwhile stop. It’s not grand, and it doesn’t try to be. But it tells a clear story.”
To understand why the Davidka matters, you need to understand the state of Jewish military forces at the time of Israel’s founding. During the British Mandate period, and especially in the lead-up to the 1948 war, the Haganah - the main Jewish paramilitary organization - was under-resourced. The British had restricted arms shipments, and much of the Jewish population had no access to modern weapons. The people who would soon be fighting for their lives in the War of Independence didn’t have tanks or air support. Even automatic rifles were hard to come by.
In this environment, homemade solutions became necessary. That’s where the Davidka came in. The Davidka was a makeshift mortar weapon developed in secret by Jewish engineers. It wasn’t precise, and it wasn’t powerful by conventional standards. But it was extremely loud. When fired, it made a deafening noise, often far out of proportion to the actual damage it inflicted. According to accounts from the time, the psychological impact of the Davidka was more important than its physical destruction. In several battles, Arab forces reportedly retreated, thinking they were under attack by much more powerful weaponry. In this way, the Davidka became a strategic tool that helped level the playing field.
The name “Davidka” is a diminutive form of “David” in Hebrew, loosely translating to “Little David.” It was named after David Leibowitz, the engineer who developed the weapon. The nickname not only reflected his name but also carried symbolic weight - echoing the biblical story of David and Goliath, where an underdog faced a much stronger opponent. In many ways, the Davidka mortar represented the same idea: a small, improvised weapon used in desperate circumstances to face a much better-equipped enemy.
The first Davidka mortars were used in battles in and around Jerusalem and other cities like Safed and Tzfat. They were manufactured locally, using materials that were available under wartime shortages and in secret workshops.
The memorial at Davidka Square doesn’t just honor the weapon - it also symbolizes the broader struggle for survival during Israel’s early days. The memorial itself was designed by Israeli sculptor Asher Hiram and was completed in 1956. It features one of the original Davidka mortars, mounted on a concrete pedestal, with a curved metal structure surrounding it. The design is symbolic. The curved metal panels are said to resemble the woolen hats that Jewish fighters wore at the time - thick, sock-like headgear worn for protection and warmth during the conflict. Around the memorial are plaques explaining the history of the weapon and the battles in which it was used.
The text on one of the plaques provides details about how the Davidka was used in the battles for Jerusalem and Tzfat. In both places, the loud noise and smoke that followed the weapon’s launch created confusion among enemy forces, helping the vastly outgunned Jewish fighters gain the upper hand. The plaque also honors the engineers and factory workers who took on the dangerous job of designing and producing these improvised weapons.
The Davidka itself is a crude-looking machine. It has a short barrel and is mounted at an angle, aimed skyward as if still ready for battle. Its design lacks the polish of factory-made artillery. But its presence in the square is a reminder that necessity often drives invention. The weapon is encased in a semi-shelter made of metal, with interpretive signs available in Hebrew, Arabic and English. There’s also a small seating area around the memorial, allowing visitors to stop, read, and reflect.
The memorial doesn’t try to glorify the war. Instead, it presents the facts. It tells the story of a people with few resources who had to rely on their creativity. The square is not a large space, but it carries historical weight. What you see is not just a weapon, but a symbol of a broader story - how a fledgling community found ways to survive despite limited means.
Getting to Davidka Square is easy. If you’re already exploring downtown Jerusalem, it’s within walking distance of many key areas. The light rail stops directly at Davidka Station. Taxis also know the location well, as it’s close to several hotels and major streets. For visitors staying near the Machane Yehuda Market, it’s just a few blocks east along Jaffa Street. The area is also accessible from Zion Square and the Mamilla pedestrian mall.
While the square is not a large destination in and of itself, I recommend stopping by if you’re already nearby. It only takes 15 to 20 minutes to visit and read through the historical plaques. What you get in return is a deeper appreciation for how much of Israel’s early survival was held together not by conventional weapons, but by courage, strategy, and makeshift inventions like the Davidka.
Many museums throughout Israel include information about the War of Independence and weapons like the Davidka, but seeing the original in a public square surrounded by the city it helped defend gives it more meaning. It’s one thing to read about history in a book or museum - it’s another to stand at the exact location where that history played out. That’s what Davidka Square provides.
For those interested in military history or the story of Israel’s early years, this is a worthwhile stop. It’s not grand, and it doesn’t try to be. But it tells a clear story. One of desperation, ingenuity, and resilience. And even though the square is surrounded by modern shops and cafes, the past still echoes from the spot where a homemade mortar helped change the course of battles.
There is no entry fee, and it’s open at all hours. It’s a public site, part of the everyday urban landscape of Jerusalem. I visited in the late afternoon, and the square was fairly quiet. A few other people were sitting on benches nearby. One person was reading a book; another was speaking on the phone. It reminded me how easily history can be woven into the routine of daily life.
The Davidka Memorial doesn’t try to impress. It simply sits in place and tells the truth. And sometimes, that’s all a memorial needs to do.
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