Early Life and immigration to Israel Solomon Florentin. Source: Wikipedia, public domain. Shlomo (Salomon) Yaakov Florentin (1864 - 1946) was a contractor and entrepreneur of Thessaloniki descent who founded the Florentin neighborhood in Tel Aviv in the 1930s. Florentin was born in Thessaloniki to a wealthy family with roots in Florence (which is where the family name comes from). He became wealthy working in insurance and tobacco. Over the years he earned important status in the Thessaloniki Jewish community and got closer to Greek government officials. While living in Greece, he purchased land in the Land of Israel. In 1924 he immigrated to the Land of Israel, and together with other Thessaloniki merchants, bought land in the area that later became the Kiryat Shaul neighborhood (north of Tel Aviv). They built a water tower and tried to establish an agricultural settlement. The Foundation of Florentin Neighborhood In 1929 he started building with David Abarbanel a neighborhood north of Jaffa, the Florentine neighborhood. The houses were sold at relatively low prices, to Jews with no means - mainly members of the Sephardic community of Jaffa. The neighborhood was founded as a part of Jaffa, although the children of the neighborhood were educated in Tel Aviv institutions. In 1936, following the Great Arab Revolt, a conflict broke out between the neighborhood residents and the Jaffa Municipality. The residents started a tax revolt and established a local committee to provide cleaning and welfare services to residents. The neighborhood was annexed to Tel Aviv in December 1948. Shlomo Florentin died in Tel Aviv in 1946 and left behind three daughters and a son. He has no connection with David Florentin. Sources: https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/שלמה_פלורנטין https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaffa#

The Early Life and Artistic Education of Siona Tagger Ziona Tager (1900 - 1988) was an Israeli painter known for painting the Yishuv period and the country's first years. Siona Tagger in 1981. Photo, public domain. She was born in Jaffa to Hungarian parents who were among the first inhabitants of Ahuzat Bait. She studied art at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design (in Jerusalem) despite her parents' opposition and continued her studies in Paris. She stayed there for two years. During World War II, she volunteered to serve in the Women's Auxiliary Corps of the British Army in Mandatory Palestine. When discharged in 1944, she presented her paintings in the lobby of the Habima Theater. In 1951, she bought a church in Tzfat, which was abandoned during the War of Independence. It was built during the 19th century in the city's Christian neighborhood. Later, more artists came to the city, and in 1952, together with a group of painters, she founded the artists’ district in Tzfat. Major Works and Contributions to Israeli Art Ziona Tager was an Israeli painter mainly known for painting the period of the Yishuv and the first years of the country. From the 1950s, she began spending her summers in Tzfat while continuing to live in Tel Aviv most of the year. She said “In the summer, I lived in the artists’ colony in Safed. I love Tel Aviv and would never replace it with anywhere else in Israel – even if from a painterly perspective it is a regular modern city. Yet in contrast to the ancient cities of Jerusalem, Tiberias, Tzfat and Jaffa, Tel Aviv is the country’s artistic center.” Her work is considered foundational in the Israeli art scene, especially as a native Israeli woman. During her life, she presented her works in Tel Aviv, Paris, Cairo, and Venice. A street in Jaffa is named after her. In this YouTube video, you will see some of her paintings and other photos of her. Sources: https://www.tagger-siona.co.il/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siona_Tagger

The Early Life and Career of Sir Moses Montefiore Moshe Montefiore (1784 - 1885), an English Sephardic Jew born in Italy, was a financier, banker, Zionist activist, and philanthropist. He married Judith Cohen, sister-in-law of Nathan Meyer Rothschild (Edmond James de Rothschild's uncle). Moses Montefiore on a 10 Israeli pound bill. Source: Bank of Israel. During his life, he was deeply committed to the Jews' situation in the Holy Land. He visited Palestine seven times during the 19th century and tried to improve the Old Yishuv inhabitants' situation and subsistence means. With his funding, a printing press was purchased (1841), the first weaving house was established (1854), authorization was obtained to build the Hurba / Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem (1855), a school was opened, and the first residential neighborhood was built outside Jerusalem's walls, called "Mishkenot Shananim" (1860). He established a flour mill as a livelihood source. The name, meaning "dwellings of tranquility", comes from Isaiah 32:18: "And my people shall abide in a peaceable habitation, and in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places." Mishkenot Shaananim between 1860 and 1870. Photo: public domain. He wanted the Jewish people living in the Old Yishuv to live by themselves and not rely on "Haluka" (an organized collection of funds from the diaspora, distributed to the Jewish residents of the Land of Israel). Legacy and Impact on Jewish History The Jews of Old Yishuv referred to him as "ha-Sar Montefiore" ('The Minister' or 'Prince' Montefiore). Link to the song about his life. Montefiore did what he could to keep Jews safe and protect their rights all around the world (in England, Syria, Morocco, Turkey, and Russia) and in the Land of Israel. One of the famous examples is his impact on the Damascus affair in 1840. In this affair, he released Jewish prisoners from prison after false accusations of murder on a Christian monk and his Muslim servant. He even made sure that all Jews living under the Sultan of Turkey were protected against similar charges. He had a fusional relationship with his wife until she died in 1862. He died in England at age 100, with no known children. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_Montefiore https://meyda.education.gov.il/files/Jerusalem_edu/2.pdf https://www.montefioreendowment.org.uk/sirmoses/about/

Historical Context of the Land of Israel Decades before the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, the establishment of a Jewish state embodying Zionist ideology had already started. Before the different waves of Aliyot, a relatively small group of devoted Jews lived in the Land of Israel, mainly concentrated in the four holy cities: Jerusalem, Tzfat, Tiberias, and Hebron, and called "the Old Yishuv" ('Hayishuv Hayashan'). Some Jews lived in Jaffa, where most of the community was made up of immigrants from North Africa and Ashkenazim who came after them. In the following video, you can see old, original photographs from 1896 in Jerusalem. The Old Yishuv was mainly characterized by Ashkenazy Kollelim (places dedicated to studying Torah), which operated according to their countries of origin and were funded by the "Haluka" (organized collection of funds from the diaspora, distributed to the Jewish residents of the Land of Israel). On the other hand, the structure and orientation of the Sephardic Yishuv, which represented the majority of the Old Yishuv at that time, were more diverse. Most Sephardic people worked for a living and received economic support for specific populations (orphans, widows, old persons, and Yeshiva students). From the beginning of the first Aliyah, new Olims arrived in Israel and received the nickname "The New Yishuv" ("Hayishuv Hahadash"). The main evolution during that period was the increasing number of people living in the Land of Israel, especially the Jewish population, which increased from 6000 at the beginning of the 19th century, to more than 26 000 in 1880. Two main changes happened at that time: The establishment of new Jewish districts outside the old walls of Jerusalem, The beginning of agricultural settlements in Petah Tikva and Rosh Pina. Other developments occurred around that time, such as the opening of secular schools (like Lemel School in Jerusalem), the development of local Hebrew newspapers ("Habetzelet" or "Halevanon"), and the increasing number of Jews living in Jaffa and other places. Leaving the Walls: The Expansion of Jewish Life in Jerusalem "The Exit from the Walls" is the name given to the development of modern Jerusalem, where new neighborhoods started to be built outside the Jewish quarter of the old city. Until the mid-1800s, the city's borders were the old walls built hundreds of years before. The growing number of inhabitants made the city really narrow, dense, and crowded, with difficult living conditions. The first to settle outside the Old Walls were European Empire representatives who built churches and monasteries for pilgrims. Later on, wealthy Arabs settled outside the old city, willing to get rid of its narrowness. You can see these new places on our special map. The Jewish settlement started with Jewish philanthropist families who wanted to help the local community. One of the most famous examples is Moshe Montefiore's initiative (1784-1885). Moshe Montefiore was born in Livorno (Italy) and emigrated to Great Britain, where he became an important public figure. On multiple occasions, he used his public status to help Jewish communities all around the world. In 1860, he initiated the foundation of the first Jewish quarter outside the old city of Jerusalem, called Mishkenot Sha'ananim. Many people in the Jewish community doubted this place. However, the difficult living conditions in the old city made the establishment of new quarters outside the old city necessary, such as Mahane Israel, Nahalat Shiva, or Meah Shearim. Some of these initiatives were public, and others were private. In decades, the new city became the center of the New Yishuv in Jerusalem. The First Agricultural Settlements and the Foundations of Renewal At the same time, Jewish agricultural settlements started to emerge. In the area of Tzfat, public figures such as Yisrael Bak, Shmuel Abu, and Eleazar Rokach bought some land to establish an agricultural settlement. In 1878, Rosh Pina was born. 17 families from Tzfat moved there, willing to cut ties with the "Haluka" and live independently. However, most of these families left due to the drought and agricultural results absence. When the Romanian immigrants arrived in the Land of Israel in 1882, during the first Aliyah, Rosh Pina was extended and renewed. For more details about one of these immigrants, named David Shuv, click on the following link. In those years, another settlement was established in the Sharon Region: Petah Tikva, nicknamed "Em Hamoshavot" ("The Mother of Settlements"). The new Moshav was founded by inhabitants of the Old Yishuv living in Jerusalem, like Yehoshua Stampfer, David Gutman, Joel Moses Salomon, or Yehuda Ben Ezer. For the same reasons as Rosh Pina, the Moshav was almost abandoned after its first years and renewed during the first Aliyah. You'll find a few photos below. Praying in the Sephardic synagogue "Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakhai", between the walls of the old city, 1893. Source: Wikipedia, public domain. Jewish workers in Kerem Avraham neighborhood of Jerusalem in the mid-19th century. Source: The David B. Keidan Collection of Digital Images from the Central Zionist Archives Group of old Jews in the Old Yishuv. Source: https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b46094/

The Rich History of Nahalat Binyamin During the early years of the 20th century, the Nahalat Binyamin Association of Jaffa, composed mainly of craftsmen, sought to establish a new neighborhood outside Jaffa. Meanwhile, the Ahuzat Bait Association had already founded a neighborhood in 1909, which later became the foundation of modern-day Tel Aviv. The Nahalat Binyamin Association asked to purchase part of the Ahuzat Beit Association-owned land but didn't receive funding. Photo from the street in Tel Aviv. In July 1910, a land of 25,000 acres was purchased. The lots in the neighborhood were smaller than those in Tel Aviv, and the houses were more modest. The neighborhood included one street parallel to Herzl Street. During its first years, an agreement was made between the parties stating that the newly established neighborhood would receive water from Tel Aviv, connect its street to it, and share the cost of infrastructure maintenance. In 1913, Nahalat Binyamin was annexed to the expanding city of Tel Aviv. Why Is It Called Nahalat Binyamin? The name of the street is a curious and controversial issue: the founders of the neighborhood decided to call the street after the "Benjamin" who would help finance its construction. If the Jewish National Fund contributes, the street will be named after Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl. If Baron Benjamin Edmond de Rothschild helps, the neighborhood will be named after him. Since no one helped, it was decided to name the street after Benjamin's tribe. In Hebrew, "Nahala" means "estate" or "privately owned land", and is related to "Hitnahlut" which means "settling". Nahalat Binyamin, the Land of Binyamin. Source: https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/נחלת_בנימין

Versatility and Cultural Impact Shahar Hason is one of Israel's most famous comedians. He rose to prominence after appearing on the TV show "Laugh About the Job" ("Ts'hok Me'haavoda"). You can see an extract (from 10 years ago) on this link. Every Thursday, he releases a short video compiling his best jokes of the week on YouTube (see an extract here). Some of his jokes and expressions have entered everyday Israeli slang, such as "Suddenly!" or "Shoshi." His videos regularly attract millions of views. Here are his Facebook and Instagram pages. Shahar Hason also appears in many Israeli advertisements seen on billboards and social media (like this one). Beyond stand-up and digital content, Hason has established himself as a mainstream media personality. His humor - often based on everyday situations, relationships, and distinctly Israeli cultural nuances - resonates with a wide audience. His sharp delivery and recognizable style have made him a recurring presence on television, in live performances, and across digital platforms. A Voice of Contemporary Israeli Humor Hason’s comedy reflects the rhythms and tensions of modern Israeli life, blending sarcasm, exaggeration, and quick improvisation. He often plays on familiar social types and shared experiences, which helps his material connect across different segments of society. By bridging television, live shows, and social media, he represents a new generation of Israeli comedians who successfully adapt to changing media consumption habits while maintaining a strong local cultural identity.

The Rise of Adir Miller in Israeli Comedy Adir Miler is a famous comedian known for creating and appearing on the TV Show "Ramzor", highlighting the story of three friends in their daily life, and "Zomet Miler", where he plays his own role. In this YouTube video, you can see extracts from "Ramzor", and on this one, there is an extract from Zomet Miller. Adir Miller's Versatility and Impact He also appears in ads, as seen in this link for Maccabi (healthcare services), and performs as a stand-up comedian, with an extract available on this YouTube link. Here are links to his Facebook Page and Instagram Page. In 2010, he won an Ophir Award (Israeli Oscars) for his role in the movie "The Matchmaker". In 2024, he wrote and produced "The Ring" (trailer below), inspired by his family's Holocaust experience in Budapest. Co-directed with Yoav and Doron Paz, he plays adult Arnon Nobel, who was saved as a baby when his mother gave a ring to an Arrow Cross soldier to protect them.

A New Sound for Israeli Military Bands Yair Rosenblum (1944 - 1996) was one of the most important creators of Israeli songs. His work strongly impacted the Israeli music scene, mainly through military bands' songs. Rosenblum served as an accordionist in the IDF band, which he later led as musical director. Between 1967 and 1977, Rosenblum served and led the Nahal Band, the Navy Band, and the Central Command Band. He is considered the one who introduced innovative arrangements of rock and pop, which were not accepted in the military framework until then. Pivotal Contributions to Israeli Culture Among his most well-known songs was the "Peace Song" ("Shir Lashalom"), written by Yaakov Rotblit and performed by the Nahal band with Miri Aloni as the main singer. At first, the song was controversial and even banned from the IDF, but slowly gained legitimacy and popularity, and reached its peak when sung at the peace rally where Yitzhak Rabin was murdered in 1995 (see video here). One other memorable song he composed was "Ammunition Hill" ('Giv'at Hatahmoshet', written by Yoram Taharlev). This song (YouTube video below) is deeply related to the Army world since it commemorates the famous battle on the Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem during the Six-Day War. He also discovered many singers, songwriters, and musicians, who eventually became famous singers in Israel. Other songs he composed are The Red Dress, Peace, and Herzl (see video here). Some of his songs are available on our Spotify Playlist, the classics.

Kaveret and Beyond: Shaping Israeli Rock History Gideon "Gidi" Gov (born in 1950) is one of the most famous Israeli singers in Israel. Like other famous Israeli singers, he started his musical journey in the IDF's musical band, which had a stronger role in the army than today. He created several bands in the 70s and 80s, such as Gazoz, Kaveret, and Doda. He also performed as a solo singer and deeply impacted the Israeli Music scene. Since the 70s, Gidi Gov has appeared in Israeli movies and TV shows as an actor. As a popular singer, he was also deeply involved in music for kids. One of the most famous albums for kids he participated in is called "Hakeves a Shisha Asar"("The 16th Lamb"). You can listen to the album here on YouTube, and see a TV live show of one of the songs here. These songs serve well for learning Hebrew, and they are a part of many Israelis' childhoods. The 16th Lamb. AI-generated picture. Gidi Gov's Impact on Television and Modern Culture During his career, he collaborated with some of the most famous Israeli singers and actors. For example, in 1993, he hosted a talk show on Telad (TV) called "Lila Gov" (''Night Gov''), where he sang with singers he invited. The program was very successful and broadcast until 1998. You can listen to some extracts via the following YouTube links: - Lila Gov with Ariel Zilber, - Lila Gov with Ehud Banai, - Lila Gov with Ofra Haza, - Lila Gov with Mika Karni. Some of his songs are available on our Spotify playlist (The Classics), which includes the one called 'Beladaih' ('Without you').

King George V and the British Empire in Mandatory Palestine King George V (1865 - 1936) was King of the United Kingdom from 1910 to 1936. Portrait by Luke Fildes, 1911. Source: Pixabay. During and after World War 1, the United Kingdom expanded its empire with new colonies. The British Empire reached its maximum extent and included the region of Palestine. During this period, major streets in various cities in the Land of Israel commemorated high commissioners and city governors, like General Allenby. Among the colonial names given to central streets, King George V stood out. On December 9, 1924, a solemn ceremony was held to name a street in Jerusalem after the British King. High Commissioner Herbert Samuel, District Governor Ronald Storrs, and Mayor Rajab Nashashivi attended the ceremony. A stone tablet in the three official languages to mark the celebration was fixed on the wall of a house at the corner of Jaffa Road and King George Street. How King George Street Became a Symbol of Colonial Urban Memory The decision to give the name King George V to streets in Haifa and Tel Aviv was made for the 25th anniversary of the King's coronation. After the principle decision was made, the main question was which street would bear the British King's name. It had to be a main street since choosing a side street could have been interpreted as an insult to the Empire. The ceremony, during which a central street in Tel Aviv was named after King George V, was held on May 6th, 1935. This was part of "King's Day" celebrated throughout the Empire. Before Tel Aviv became a city, Jaffa also had a street named after the King. With the establishment of the State of Israel, the question of purifying colonial heritage in the public sphere came up on the urban agenda. In 1950, it was decided to keep the street name as it was. That same year, with the unification of Jaffa and Tel Aviv, the street named after the British King in Jaffa was canceled. Sources : https://shimur.org/%D7%90%D7%99%D7%96%D7%94-%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%9A-%D7%9E%D7%93%D7%95%D7%A2-%D7%A0%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A8%D7%97%D7%95%D7%91%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%A9%D7%9D-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%9A/ https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-V-king-of-United-Kingdom

The conquest of Jerusalem and the end of Ottoman rule Entry of Field Marshall Allenby, Jerusalem, December 11, 1917. Source: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/matpc.00169/ Edmund Allenby (1861 - 1936) was a British military officer who became famous during World War 1 for conquering the Land of Israel and Jerusalem. These areas were under the control of the Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years. In June 1917, he was appointed British Army General in Egypt and Israel. His mission was to break through the Turkish southern front. On November 14, Jaffa was captured by Allenby. On December 8, 1917, the Turkish army withdrew from Jerusalem. The next day, the Muslim mayor of Jerusalem, Hussein al-Husseini, gave the surrender letter and the city keys to the British army. The city was captured without any battle. On December 11, General Edmund Allenby entered Jerusalem through the Jaffa Gate. On September 19, 1918, General Allenby turned north and fought the Turkish Army in the Megiddo Valley and entered the Jezreel Valley. October 1, 1918: Allied and Arab forces advanced to capture the capital city of Damascus. October 25, 1918: Allenby's troops captured Aleppo, which brought an end to Ottoman power in Syria Why Allenby became a lasting figure in Israel General Allenby's entrance into Jerusalem. Source: https://www.loc.gov The image of General Allenby marching into Jerusalem became one of the most famous symbols of the Land of Israel of the 20th century. After the tyrannical rule of the Ottomans and the high hopes the Jewish community placed on the British Empire, Allenby won fame and respect. This was not only in his country but also among the Jewish community in Israel who defined the event as a "miracle of Hanukkah". On December 9, 1917, Allenby wrote his "Jerusalem Declaration", which carried a message of peace and respect, and ensured city commerce and pilgrimage activities were maintained. "Since your city is regarded with affection by the adherents of three of the great religions of mankind and its soil has been consecrated by the prayers and pilgrimages of multitudes of devout people of these three religions for many centuries, therefore, do I make it known to you that every sacred building, monument, holy spot, shrine, traditional site, endowment, pious bequest, or customary place of prayer of whatsoever form of the three religions will be maintained and protected according to the existing customs and beliefs of those to whose faith they are sacred."* The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Lloyd George (1916 - 1922), requested Allenby to "Bring us Jerusalem before Christmas."** After the war, he was appointed High Commissioner of Egypt. General Edmund Allenby died in 1936 in London, and Israel's radio stopped broadcasting for two minutes. Meir Dizengoff summed up his character at the municipal council meeting on May 25, 1936, by saying that Allenby was "a knight and a hero who knew how to bow his head before anything holy."** Israel has streets named after him, like in Tel Aviv. Sources: http://www.zionistarchives.org.il/datelist/Pages/General-Allenby.aspx https://news.walla.co.il/item/3118375 * https://www.gojerusalem.com/article/319/Edmund-Allenby--the-British-Mandates-conquerer-of-Jerusalem/ **https://www.maariv.co.il/news/israel/Article-608343

From Jaffa’s Craftsmen to a Tel Aviv neighborhood Ba'alei Melakha means "Craftsmen" in Hebrew. After Menahem Sheinkin made Aliyah in 1906, he joined the Craftsmanship Organization of Jaffa. This organization was created to unify the (Jewish) craftsmen of Jaffa. After the establishment of Tel Aviv in 1909, he decided to establish in 1912-1913, the Independent Craftsmanship Organization in a neighborhood. This organization aimed to unify Tel Aviv's independent craftsmen. Its main street was named after Menahem Sheikin. The craftsmen’s organization behind a growing city Other streets in the neighborhood were named with craft-related names, such as Ba'alei Melakha, Havoda ("work"), or Johanan HaSandlar ("Rabbi Yochanan the shoemaker", who lived in the second century). Owners of small shops and small family factories initiated the neighborhood's settlement, which was annexed to Tel Aviv in 1923. The organization's purpose was to unify poor immigrants, people with businesses such as cobblers, tailors, etc, and small family businesses into a professional association. The organization barely survived World War 1 and recovered after the British occupation (which brought funds to the city's development), and during the fourth Aliyah (1924 - 1929), which doubled the number of craftsmen in the city. Source : https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/מרכז_בעלי_מלאכה_(שכונה)