Shavei Zion has been threatened by attacks from the Arab neighborhood since its founding in 1938. Even as a child, Hillel had to do guard duty.

Although he was a very good student, he was not allowed to attend secondary school. The cooperative required all young people to work in the fields or on their farms. Hillel was employed as a laborer in agriculture. However, he also acquired solid manual skills in the carpentry shop.

Before and during the War of Independence, Hillel served in the Haganah, later Israel's armed forces.