National Library of Israel

“Don’t begin in 1948. This story is a hundred years old.”

When Herman Wouk, the award-winning Jewish American author, sat down to write a historical novel centered around the early history of the Jewish state, he consulted with his Israeli friends, who had personally experienced the events he wanted to write about.

Some were leading Israeli military and political figures, others were unknowns.
People were generally pessimistic about the book's chances of success. They felt the story was too complex; it wasn’t simply a war story, but rather something no one else in the world could truly understand; the time frame was too broad because it was impossible to understand anything that happened here without going into way more history than can fit into one book.

But that didn’t bother Herman Wouk. He had already won a Pulitzer Prize for a book that all his friends and acquaintances in the US Army warned him not to write ("The Caine Mutiny", 1952), and he had managed to get a 2,000-page historical saga about World War II onto the bestseller lists. Besides, unlike most Jewish-American writers of that generation, he felt he was a Jew first of all, before anything else. He was also an ardent Zionist.

He simply wanted to tell this story. A story of hope and glory.

See the first comment below to read on!

In 1969, Yacov Lishansky was crowned Israel's "Queen of the Kitchen."

This was when Golda Meir was serving as prime minister, and Israeli newspapers declared it was only fair that, in retribution, men should reclaim the kitchen.

Yacov himself had previously owned many titles, among them - military governor of the Galilee and gas station owner - but now - this was a matter of royalty!

See the first comment below to read our article, which touches on mullet fish, royal aprons, and shakshuka cooked under fire along the Suez Canal.

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Photo: "Queen of the Kitchen" Yacov Lishansky receives the winner's apron, 1969, photo by Miki Binyamini, the Dan Hadani Archive, the Pritzker Family National Photography Collection, the National Library of Israel

In the 1920s and 30s, American-born Josephine Baker was one of the most successful and highest-paid entertainers in the world.

During World War II, she volunteered to spy for France and helped smuggle Jews and Resistance fighters to safety.

She visited Israel multiple times and even sent one of her children to be educated on a kibbutz. At one point, she actually wanted to adopt an Israeli child...

See the first comment below to read our article and get a glimpse into the life of one of the 20th century’s most fascinating figures, and her surprising connection to Judaism and Israel.

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Photo: Josephine Baker during a visit to Israel, by Boris Carmi, from the Meitar Collection, the Pritzker Family National Photography Collection at the National Library of Israel

In accordance with Home Front Command guidelines, the Library will operate as usual on Tuesday, June 9 ❤

In accordance with Home Front Command guidelines, the Library will be open on Monday, June 8, for Library Card holders only, and subject to the permitted gathering limit of up to 500 people inside the building.

The Visitors Center will be closed, tours and events will not be taking place.

David Ben-Gurion always had a knack for standing out in a crowd.

Here he is at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, decked out in late 60s Israeli fashion!

This photo was taken shortly after the Old City was captured by the IDF during the Six-Day War, on June 7, 1967.

The Dan Hadani Collection, the Pritzker Family National Photography Collection at the National Library of Israel

He illustrated one of the most beautiful Haggadot ever created.

He drew George Washington, the Hebrew prophets, and Israel's Declaration of Independence.

And he spent years using his art to fight Hi**er.

Arthur Szyk was more than an artist. Born in Poland on June 3, 1894, he became one of the twentieth century's most passionate advocates for Jewish pride, Zionism, and democracy. His detailed, colorful illustrations celebrated Jewish history and resilience.

Today, Szyk's work is enjoying a remarkable revival, and his legacy can still be found in unexpected places.

Who was Arthur Szyk, and why are people rediscovering him today?

See the first comment below to read more!

Image: From "The Haggadah," executed by Arthur Szyk, edited by Cecil Roth, London: Beaconsfield Press, 1940, the National Library of Israel collections