A special exhibition featuring the history of B’nai B’rith Israel opened this week in Rokach House, the historic home of Shimon Rokach, leader of the Jaffa Jewish community. Rokach was a founder of Neve Tzedek, the first Jewish neighborhood that was built outside of Jaffa (1887) as well as Founder and President of Sha’ar Zion, the second B’nai B’rith lodge established in the Land of Israel in 1890.
The project is a national initiative of B’nai B’rith, led by former BB Israel President Daniel Gratz, and current President of Sha’ar Zion Lodge, whose dedicated team of B’nai Brith volunteers organized and curated the entire exhibiton. Gratz said, “Sadly, many members, especially our younger ones, are unaware of the organization’s proud legacy and its pivotal part in building and establishing the State. This exhibition will help bring that story to life.” In his greetings, BB Israel’s President Emanuel Cohen announced plans to renovate Rokach House and use it for the activities of the organization in Tel Aviv.
The exhibition includes 24 posters , designed from archival materials, and follows the history of B’nai B’rith Israel, its contribution to building the Yishuv and developing the State, and its present-day growth and rejuvenation. One poster is dedicated to the founding of B’nai B’rith in New York 182 years ago , and another to President Harry S. Truman famous meeting with leaders of B’nai B’rith (including Eddie Jacobson and Frank Goldman), who made the case for U.S. support for the creation of a Jewish state. Some of the archival materials have been enhanced using AI.
Elise Shazar
