Independence Hall (Israel)

Coordinates: 32°3′46″N 34°46′15″E / 32.06278°N 34.77083°E / 32.06278; 34.77083
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Israel's Independence Hall, 16 Rothschild Boulevard, Tel Aviv, 2007

Independence Hall, originally the Dizengoff House (

Israeli Declaration of Independence and the history of Tel Aviv
.

Origins

At the vicinity of where Independence Hall now stands, sixty-six families gathered on April 11, 1909 to conduct a lottery for plots of land in a new Jewish neighborhood, to be known as

Ahuzat Bayit. Meir and Zina Dizengoff acquired plot number 43, on which they built their home. Meir Dizengoff served as the head of the new neighborhood council. In 1910, at a general meeting, the residents of Ahuzat Bayit, inspired by Theodor Herzl's Altneuland (English: Old-New Land), unanimously decided to rename their neighborhood Tel Aviv. As the neighborhood grew and became a city, Dizengoff
became its first mayor.

Tel Aviv Museum of Art

David Ben-Gurion pronouncing Israel's Declaration of Independence, May 14, 1948
Michael Bar-Zohar, Ben Gurion's biographer, lecturing in the restored main hall, 2012

In 1930, after the death of his wife, Dizengoff donated his house to his beloved city of Tel Aviv and requested that it be turned into a museum. The house underwent extensive renovations and became the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in 1932. The museum moved to its current location in 1971.

Independence

In the main hall of the building, at 4 PM on May 14, 1948 (5 Iyar 5708), in the presence of the members of the

State of Israel, eight hours before the British Mandate of Palestine
was due to end. After Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence, Rabbi Fischman (Maimon) recited the Shehecheyanu blessing, and the Declaration was signed. The ceremony concluded with the singing of Hatikvah, now Israel's national anthem.

Bible Museum

The upper floors of the building houses a Bible museum, featuring archaeological artifacts and works of art with biblical themes.

Today

In 1978, Independence Hall was restored to resemble its appearance at the time of the declaration of independence and opened to the public. It now houses exhibits on the signing of the declaration and the history of

Tel Aviv-Yafo
.

External links

32°3′46″N 34°46′15″E / 32.06278°N 34.77083°E / 32.06278; 34.77083