Before the Old City of Jerusalem was liberated in the Six-Day War – and even before the founding of the State of Israel – there were already a number of forgotten attempts by individuals, organizations, and official institutions to establish a “Jerusalem Day.” How was Israel’s capital commemorated before the Six-Day War? The answer is, at times, surprising.
Recalling Operation Solomon: When 14,000 Jews Left Ethiopia for Israel
A secret airlift in May 1991 brought thousands of Ethiopian Jews to their new home in the Jewish state. This is one family’s story.
A “Pillbox” Tour of Jerusalem With the British Mandate Police
In 1920, the British Mandate authorities established the Palestine Police Force. Come take a step back in time as we trace the history of this key institution through rare photographs and period maps—focusing on its distinctive presence across Jerusalem.
Baby No. 000001: Meet the State of Israel’s First *Official* Newborn
Yet another scoop from the National Library: introducing Drora Cohen, the very first person to receive an Israeli birth certificate! “Grandma Drora is number one—and she has the documents to prove it.”
The Eichmann Effect
Sixty-five years ago, Israel tracked down and arrested Adolf Eichmann, an architect of the Final Solution. In many ways, the capture and subsequent trial marked a turning point in Israeli history. A look back at a seminal event.
Yesterday’s News: The Story of the Historical Jewish Press Archive
Professor Yaron Tsur—one of the founders of the NLI’s Historical Jewish Press website—has been awarded the Israel Prize. The honor recognizes, among other achievements, his role in helping create one of the National Library’s most significant initiatives. This is the story behind the Historical Jewish Press – a project that allows anyone, anywhere to explore nearly every Jewish newspaper published over the last 250 years—and embark on a captivating journey through Jewish history.
Revealed: Who Was “The State of Israel’s First Baby”?
Among the National Library’s photography collections, one particularly adorable discovery caught our eye: a series of images titled “The State of Israel’s First Baby.” There were no other identifying details. Solving the mystery took a bit of detective work, some help from kind strangers, and a stroke of luck. But eventually, we found the birthday girl—and she even gave us a special interview.
Orr Blumovitz, the Soldier Who Never Stopped Reading—Even in the Tank
When Orr Blumovitz was born, his parents could not have known that naming him after a beloved book character would set him on a path filled with endless hours of reading and hundreds of books—a life rich in knowledge, curiosity, and giving. Books shaped Orr’s world until his tragic death in an attack targeting an IDF armored vehicle in June 2024. Today, they form a lasting part of his legacy.
“Schwester Selma”: Jerusalem’s Legendary Nurse
She’s considered Jerusalem’s first Jewish head nurse, a trailblazer who introduced professional nursing practices many of which are still in use today. But what prompted a young woman from Germany to leave everything behind for the dusty, underdeveloped hills of the Land of Israel? This is the story of a woman for whom nursing was a calling—a way of life. Her legacy still shapes nursing in Israel to this day.
Around the World in 15 Years: The First Israeli Woman to Travel the Globe
Schlomit Flaum left behind no family, no one to preserve her memory. Yet she did leave something extraordinary—a groundbreaking book, the first Hebrew-language travelogue written by a woman from the Land of Israel, during an era when women rarely ventured beyond their homes. Her memoir reveals a turbulent, fascinating life marked by profound loneliness, and recounts remarkable encounters with individuals who shaped the course of history.
