Museum Page Rabbi Sussman

THE IMPORTANCE OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY TEL-AVIV The city’s early decades coincided with an unusual profusion of photographers determined to document its growth. The leaders of the Zionist Movement made use of these stirring photographs of the burgeoning metropolis to increase support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine among Jews living in the Diaspora. Perhaps the most famous was Abraham Soskin who photographed the now iconic “Seashell Lottery” and whose archives are now housed at Stanford University.
The Seashell Lottery 1906 Photographer: Abraham Soskin Source: Tel-Aviv Municipal Archives A lottery using gray and white shells marked the beginning of the first Hebrew city, Tel Aviv. In 1906 “The Jaffa Homestead Association” – Ahuzat Bayit – was established with Akiva Arye Weiss as the project's guiding spirit. Three years later, during Passover, on a dune near the seashore, Weiss called together some 200 people representing 66 families. The historic occasion: A lottery to distribute plots of land on 12 acres the association had recently purchased from Bedouins. To ensure a fair allocation, Weiss took 66 white seashells and 66 gray ones, inscribing the names of the families that had bought land on the white shells and the plot numbers on the gray ones. A child matched, one by one, a gray shell and a white shell – and the rest is history. By 1910, with the first 66 houses standing proudly on the sands, the founding families celebrated Moving Day, and a train of camels made its way north from Jaffa, carrying family belongings to their new home.
Nizza Cafe, Tel Aviv 1953 Photographer Willi Folender Source: Tel-Aviv Municipal Archives *WE LIVE HERE IN A SMALL SCALE BERLIN WHICH WE CALL TEL-AVIV.* Everyone sitting in the many outdoor cafes felt that they were in a plot against history The Berliners who came to Tel-Aviv in the 1930s brought with them “in their luggage” the broken illusion of complete belonging, a burden to be borne for a long time to come. Tel-Aviv at least supplied them with the cinemas, cafes, and dance bars they felt they could not live without. Many persisted in wearing the formal clothes of everyday German life and were derisively called “Jacket Jews”. The writer, Yoram Kaniuk
Adloyada Purim 1960 *PUBLIC SPACE* From the very beginning there was an awareness of the importance of how the public spaces of Tel-Aviv would be used. Officials quickly seized the opportunity to establish Jewish control of the urban sphere through sponsored festivities, such as Hanukkah and Purim parades (The Adloyada), that would enhance the identity of “The First Hebrew City”. Every single event of a public nature that took place in the city was carefully planned and celebrated, including political visits such as by that of Lord Balfour in 1925 and British High Commissioner, Lord Herbert Samuel in 1923.
Temple Judea Museum at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel Lobby Showcases: Havana-gilah – Mitzvahs and Mojitos: KI Travels to Cuba, January 2009 Images from the Showcase
"Let Me In" ©Stan Singer Photographer: Stan Singer In Cuba, the synagogue often serves multiple functions that are not commonplace elsewhere. This Temple served as a pharmacy and a center where computers and printers are available. Most individuals do not have computers and the authorities monitor the emails and sites visited of those that do. This man appeared frantic in his attempt to enter the locked gate to the synagogue in order to meet his needs. After an agitated interchange he was permitted to enter. ___Stan Singer
"Stilted" (©Stan Singer). Photographer: Stan Singer Have you ever seen performers on stilts sitting down? I never had. In Cuba people are facing oppression in different ways. Some, like these stilted performers are trying to earn extra money by performing for tourists. With an average monthly wage of $20, every bit of extra income is crucial to survival. ___Stan Singer