My Old New Land

The First Buildings of Borochov Neighborhood, 1922–1923, Givatayim

A glimpse into the earliest days of Borochov, the neighborhood that would become the foundation of modern Givatayim. Established in 1922 and named after Dov Ber Borochov, one of the leading figures of the Jewish labor movement and a founder of Poale Zion, Borochov became the first urban workers’ neighborhood in the Land of Israel.

Its residents were not only building homes, they were creating institutions. The neighborhood established the country’s first public consumer cooperative, alongside pioneering educational and youth institutions that would leave a lasting mark.

The cornerstone ceremony took place on April 2, 1922. As the neighborhood expanded, residents took responsibility for roads, water infrastructure, schools, kindergartens, and community life - largely without support from the Mandate authorities. These challenges eventually helped drive the idea of unifying neighboring communities, leading to the creation of a joint local council in 1942.

This image captures more than construction, it reflects the ambition and collective effort behind one of the earliest urban communities of the Yishuv.

📍 Borochov Neighborhood, Givatayim
📸 1922/1923

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Moshav Alma, The Beginning of the Journey (1957)

This photograph captures the early years of Moshav Alma in the Upper Galilee. Founded in 1949 by immigrants from Libya, the moshav later received a group of Jewish converts from San Nicandro in Italy and, in 1954, immigrants from Cochin, though both later left the community.

Alma’s history reaches much further back: the site had a Jewish settlement in Roman times, was mentioned in the Crusader period, and remained inhabited into the Ottoman era. Remains of an ancient synagogue are associated with the site, linking the moshav’s landscape to a much older past.

📍 Moshav Alma, Upper Galilee
📸 Boris Carmi, 1957
🗂️ National Library Archives / PikiWiki Collection, Public domain.

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Captured in Jerusalem in 1905, this photograph documents the Ceremony of the Holy Fire, one of the most important annual traditions in Eastern Christianity.

Held each year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Holy Saturday - the day after Good Friday and at the beginning of Easter celebrations - the ceremony commemorates the belief that a sacred flame miraculously appears inside the Holy Tomb chapel.

For centuries, pilgrims from across the Christian world have gathered in Jerusalem to witness and carry the flame, making the event one of the city’s most enduring religious traditions.

Photo source: Unknown photographer - Roni Manor via the PikiWiki – Israel free image collection project

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Founded in 1949 on the edge of the Negev, Kibbutz Mefalsim became the first settlement established by South American pioneers in Israel. Most of its founders were members of the Dror youth movement from Argentina and Uruguay, who came with the vision of helping build a new life in their renewed homeland.

The name Mefalsim (“those who pave the way”) honors the people who opened new paths for immigration from Latin America.

Originally established on a kurkar hill facing the Gaza border, the kibbutz was later moved to its current location after repeated gunfire from the direction of Beit Hanun.

Today, Mefalsim remains part of the story of the Negev — a place shaped by pioneering, resilience, and continuity.

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Photo by Abraham Malavsky • Israel Preker via the PikiWiki – Israel free image collection project (from the Mefalsim Archive via the KKL Archive)

A street name or a political battleground?

When Haifa proposed naming a street after the legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, it sparked a massive debate. While Jerusalem honored her in 2012, Haifa’s plan was ultimately dropped over political controversy.

But this isn't just about a sign. It raises a deeper question for mixed cities: Whose history do our streets reflect, and whose stories get left behind? 🗺️

Despite the politics, the "Star of the Orient" remains a deep part of Israel’s cultural fabric, especially for Jews of Middle Eastern and North African descent.

Swipe through to discover her forgotten history in Haifa and how her voice still challenges how we think about identity and memory. 👉

Thank you, Einat Levi, for your contribution!

More details on: https://www.myoldnewland.com/post/umm-kulthum-in-haifa

Umm Kulthum in Haifa: between memory and identity In 2020, Haifa approved a proposal to name a street after Umm Kulthum, recognizing her as one of the greatest voices in Arab music. The decision, supported by Hadash, sparked a wider debate in Israeli society over memory, identity, and Jewish-Arab coexistence in one of Israel’s most mixed cities.

A century-old postcard of the Western Wall reminds us just how many layers of history are waiting to be rediscovered.

Printed between the early 1920s and 1939 in Mandatory Palestine, this image is part of an iconic series by the Eliyahu brothers, Matityahu and Yossef. Their work captured hundreds of views across Israel, alongside the legendary leaders of the Zionist movement, creating a vital visual record of a changing land.

Discover more about Jerusalem and its street names on myoldnewland.com!

📸: Israel Preker via PikiWiki (Jerusalem Archive / Hedi Or Collection), Public Domain.

This 1965 view of Tel Aviv-Yafo captures the iconic Shalom Meir Tower midway through construction. Standing tall in the background, it was completed later that year as Israel’s first skyscraper.

But the ground it stands on holds an even deeper story. The tower was built directly on the site of the historic Gymnasia Herzliya—the country’s very first Hebrew high school. Founded in 1905 in Ottoman-era Jaffa, the school moved to Herzl Street in 1909, into a gorgeous building designed by Joseph Barsky and inspired by descriptions of Solomon’s Temple.

While the original building is gone, this photo perfectly captures a city constantly reinventing itself, blending the minarets of Old Yaffo with the rising concrete of modern Tel Aviv.

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📸: National Photo Collection of Israel (Public Domain)

In the heart of Kiryat Yosef (former name of Kyriat Shemona), a poignant scene unfolds as 20-year-old Miriam Radin, an immigrant from Yemen, diligently splits reeds for mat making. This moment, captured in 1950, speaks volumes about the journey of new immigrants like Miriam, who bring with them diverse stories, traditions, and hopes for a bright future in Israel.

It’s a reminder that every object holds a story, and every new immigrant contributes to Israel’s history.

We invite you to share your thoughts below and join us in discovering more about contemporary Israel at myoldnewland.com!

Photo: National Photo Collection of Israel, public domain.

Weekly prayer at the Great Synagogue in Bnei Brak, 1975.

A moment captured by photographer Shlomo Seter from the Dan Hadani Collection, showing the rhythm of tradition and community life in one of Israel’s most prominent religious cities.

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