Independence Hall (Israel)

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Independence Hall today. 16 Rothschild Boulevard, Tel Aviv, Israel

David Ben Gurion pronouncing Israel's Declaration of Independence, May 14, 1948 at Independence Hall on May 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the state of Israel in the main hall of the building.

Independence Hall, originally the Dizengoff House (Hebrew: בית דיזנגוף) is best known as the site of the signing of Israel's Declaration of Independence. It is located on the historic Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv, Israel. Today a museum, it houses exhibits on the signing of the Declaration of Independence and on the history of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. From 1932 to 1971, it housed the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

1 Origins
2 Town hall
3 Tel Aviv Museum of Art
4 Independence
5 See also
6 Today
7 Gallery
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Origins

On this site, 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. As the neighborhood grew and became a city, Dizengoff became the first mayor of the city of Tel Aviv.

[edit] Town hall

In 1910, at a general meeting, the residents of Ahuzat Bait, inspired by Theodor Herzl's book Altneuland (English: Old-New Land), unanimously decided to rename their neighborhood Tel Aviv.

[edit] Tel Aviv Museum of Art

Main article: Tel Aviv Museum of Art

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 became the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in 1932. The museum moved to its current location in 1971.

[edit] Independence

Main article: Declaration of Independence (Israel)

The first Israeli Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, made the proclamation at 4 pm on May 14, 1948 in the main hall, eight hours before the British mandate over the region was due to end, in the presence of the members of the Vaad Leumi (Jewish National Council), and the leaders of the Jewish community.

After David Ben-Gurion read the declaration of independence, Rabbi Fischman (Maimon), recited the Shehecheyanu blessing, and the Declaration of Independence was signed. The ceremony concluded with the singing of Hatikvah, now Israel's national anthem.

[edit] See also

[edit] Today

In 1978, Independence Hall was restored and opened to the public. It now houses exhibits on the signing of the Declaration of Independence and on the history of Tel Aviv-Jaffa.