Collections: 50th Anniversary Objects of the Month

To honor our 50th anniversary, we invite you to peek into our archives each month.

May 2010: Flag of Israel

Archives Record
Object #: 2003.22.1
Donor: Ruthe Katz
Description: Israeli flag signed by local Zionist leaders, May 14, 1948

Background: Leaders of Washington's Zionist community signed this Israeli flag at Isador and Bessie Turover's celebration of Israel’s independence. Signers included Ruth and Joseph Cherner, Rebecca and John Safer, Minnie and Abe Kay, and Louis Grossberg.
Click here to see enlarged signature area of the flag.

Washington Jews celebrated. A wildly jubilant crowd gathered at the Jewish Agency building at 2210 Massachusetts Avenue, spilling out the door and onto the lawn. Rabbi Zemach Green offered a prayer of thanks. Members of the Habonim danced the hora and the crowd sang "Hatikvah."

To donate materials that document the D.C. area’s contribution to the establishment of Israel to the Jewish Historical Society, contact us at info@jhsgw.org or (202) 789-0900.