The Farkash Gallery is thrilled to introduce the newest addition to our collection, an extremely rare one of a kind Tel Aviv Zoo Aquarium poster from 1939.

The Story of Tel Aviv’s Zoo and ‘Rabbi Dolittle’

Tel Aviv’s historic zoo, a cherished icon of the city, operated from 1938 to 1980 where Rabin Square and the Tel Aviv Municipality stand today.

The zoo’s origins are tied to Mordechai Shorenstein, the former rabbi of Copenhagen and a passionate animal lover. He arrived to Tel Aviv in 1935 with only two bird cages and a vision of bringing joy to the city’s children. Shorenstein small pet store quickly expanded to include monkeys, bears, and tigers and eventually evolved into the Tel Aviv Zoo, located on the city’s outskirts at the time.

To address concerns about the zoo’s remote location and attract visitors, Shorenstein turned to some of the most knowned artists at the time, like Nahum Gutman and Pesach Ir-Shay and commissioned the captivating zoo posters, that later became iconic symbols of Tel Aviv’s culture and history.

Contrary to Shorenstein’s concerns, the zoo’s opening was met with overwhelming enthusiasm. In its first year, 70,000 people—more than half of Tel Aviv’s population at the time—flocked to see it. As the city grew, the zoo, once in a distant corner, found itself in the midst of residential neighborhoods. By 1980, the zoo closed, its animals moving to the Ramat Gan Safari, but its memory still endures as a cherished part of Tel Aviv’s history.

The Story of Israel’s Post-Independence War Struggle for Arms:

Newly Discovered Rare Poster by the Shamir Brothers 1950s

After the UN decision to partition Israel, acquiring weapons for Israeli Defense became a critical yet extremely complex challenge. With an arms embargo imposed by the US on the Middle East blocking legal supplies from America and Europe, Israel resorted to illicit arms procurement, mainly from the Soviet bloc. This led to a varied and outdated arsenal, causing severe logistical issues for the IDF. (It should also be noted that meanwhile, Arab armies were extremely equipped, both in the quantity and quality of weaponry).

Following the War of Independence, the IDF sought a solution by standardizing its firearms. In the 1950s, they selected the FN FAL rifle—a modern and efficient weapon successfully used by Israel until the 70s in numerous operations, including Operation Kadesh (1956), the Six-Day War (1967), and the Yom Kippur War (1973). Despite its accuracy, the rifle’s sensitivity to desert conditions required constant maintenance, leading to frustration among soldiers.

To address this and foster trust and proper care for their weapons, the Ministry of Defense launched a campaign for the soldiers. As part of this effort, the renowned Shamir brothers created the poster you see above, now newly discovered and presented here—the only known survivor from that campaign. The poster’s slogan, “Soldier! Take care of me, trust me,” encapsulates the intricate narrative of Israel’s early military history, reflecting the battles fought to build and defend the nascent state.

The State of Israel was officially established on May 14, 1948, alongside the formation of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). However, the Israeli Navy was only established about a month and a half later, on June 30, 1948, the day the British left Haifa port. This date marks the annual celebration of Yom Hayam \ Sea Day (Navy Day) in Israel.

1958 marked Israel’s first decade, with celebrations throughout the country. A highlight in our collection is the remarkable Navy Day poster from that year. The Poster features the powerful inscription: “The Navy protects the gateways of our country.” This phrase not only underscores the critical role of the Israeli Navy but also highlights its significant involvement in Aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) during the Yishuv period.

Related Posters

“The Ten Commandments” (1956), directed by Cecil B. DeMille, is a cinematic epic that retells the biblical story of Moses and the Exodus (Passover story). The film’s posters are legendary, capturing two of the most recognizable scenes in biblical history: Moses parting the Red Sea and receiving the Ten Commandments.

These images resonate deeply within the Jewish identity, symbolizing both the struggles we endured and still enduring for our freedom and the relevance of ancient stories and shared heritage in our lives.

Founded by the visionary Ze’ev Jabotinsky in 1929, the Tel Hai Foundation quickly became a cornerstone of the Revisionist Zionist movement. Its mission was: to educate Zionist youth with the skills and spirit of self-defense, with the ultimate goal of eventually building a Hebrew state.

One of the Foundation’s most significant undertakings was the creation of the “Ze’ev Jabotinsky Fortress\ Metzudat Ze’ev” in Tel Aviv. What began as the ‘Trumpeldor Club’—home to the Beitar Movement (Revisionist Youth) in 1928 and a clandestine meeting place for Etzel underground fighters—grew into the formidable Jabotinsky House, a 14-story symbol of the movement. It was within these walls that Menachem Begin celebrated his historic 1977 electoral victory.

When the construction of the ‘Fortress’ began in 1935, the site lay on the fringe of the first Hebrew city. By the time of its completion and expansion in 1965, it had become an enduring central icon of Tel Aviv’s political and cultural landscape—the heart of the Revisionist and later the Herut movements. Today, the building serves as the headquarters of the Likud movement and houses three museums: the Jabotinsky Museum, the Etzel Museum, and the Museum of Fighters and Partisans.

In 1898, just a year after the First Zionist Congress, Theodor Herzl, the foremost Zionist leader, visited the Land of Israel for the first and only time, seeking international recognition for the Jewish right to a sovereign state.

His mission –  a crucial meeting with the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was touring the region. At the time, Herzl was considered a minor politician with a crazy idea, while Wilhelm II led one of the world’s most powerful nations. Their meeting symbolized the first international consideration of Zionist aspirations.

Herzl arrived in Israel via the port of Jaffa with a small Zionist delegation and met the German ruler twice, pursuing the Kaiser’s influence over the Ottoman Sultan to support a Jewish state in Israel. The meetings’ importance lay not in their immediate outcomes but in the fact they even occurred. For the first time, the Zionist vision received acknowledgment from a major global leader.

The Most Famous Zionist ‘Photoshop’

Herzel understood the importance of capturing the meeting. This was assigned to David Wolfson however, his photo failed to include Herzl, showing only his leg. Herzl was later added with a photo montage, depicting him in conversation with the Emperor.

Herzl: “In Basel, I established the Jewish state. If I had said that out loud today, everyone would have laughed at me. Maybe in five years, and certainly in fifty years, they will all agree.” May the memory of this great visionary be etched on our hearts for generations and forever.”​

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) was founded during the Fifth Zionist Congress in 1901, through land purchase, agricultural development, and infrastructure projects, laid the groundwork for Israel’s establishment.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the JNF worked to strengthen the bond between Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Among its many initiatives, they produced a special series of educational posters aimed at Jewish youth.

These posters aimed to share the new Israeli identity, teach Hebrew, and inspire young minds to participate in building the homeland and blossoming the wilderness. The posters depicted early Israeli life, were sent to youth movements, Zionist organizations, schools, and kindergartens worldwide, and fostered a deep love for Israel.

Although often unsigned, many beautiful posters were created by Zvi Berger (1935-1986), a renowned Bezalel painter, designer, and illustrator, who crafted them with a deep love for Israel and his youthful memories. ( all the posters in this collection were designed by him).

Join the Fight for our Jewish Voices Through History

Since 1948, the Farkash Gallery has been dedicated to collecting, documenting, and exhibiting the world’s largest collection of Israeli and Jewish posters dating back to the 1920s. These posters, essential to the Zionist movement, now remind us of our shared identity, purpose, and pride, inspiring and reinforcing our heritage and values.

We Are Still Fighting

Throughout history, the Jewish collective and later the state of Israel have faced countless threats. Today, it is clear that we are still fighting for our voices and freedom. Join us in preserving and celebrating our history, ensuring our stories and values endure.

Almost 140 years have passed since the first harvest of Carmel Wineries, the oldest winery in Israel, which once employed three future prime ministers in their youth. This one-of-a-kind sign, designed by Zeev Raban and Meir Gur-Arie in their renowned Bezalel studio is one of the highlights of our collection for its incredible design, extreme rarity, and historic value.

The winery was established in Rishon LeZion by its first settlers in 1889, with the financial assistance of Baron de Rothschild. It provided employment and purpose for many from the first and second aliyah, including David Ben-Gurion. The story of Carmel Wineries intertwines with the history of settlement in the Land of Israel, reflecting the dreams and efforts of the first aliyah settlers who, driven by an unwavering love for the Land of Israel created a thriving Zionist enterprise.

Ze’ev Raban (1890-1970) and Meir Gur-Arie (1891-1951)

In the 1920s and 1930s, Raban and Gur-Arie were the central figures in Israel’s art and graphic design. Besides their personal works, they created famous symbols for many Zionist organizations (such as KKL and the Levant Fair) and for commercial “Tozeret Haaretz” companies in various sectors and industries. Today, they are considered masters and pioneers of Israeli art and education. Their works are essential to the permanent collections in many museums in Israel, such as the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the Tel Aviv Museum, and many private collections worldwide.

Ze’ev Raban  and Meir Gur-Arie Works

The Jewish settlement in Israel saw itself as part of the resistance against the Nazis during World War II. Despite initial resistance from religious factions, the call for women to serve alongside men in the British army echoed strongly from the war’s outset. Approximately 40,000 soldiers from the Hebrew settlement volunteered for the British army, with around 4,500 being women.

In 1941, supported by the Jewish Agency, representatives from various women’s Zionist organizations such as the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) and Hadassah, petitioned the British authorities to allow Jewish women volunteers to join the ATS Women’s Auxiliary Corps.

In October 1941 British authorities agreed to recruit 5,000 women. Although the agency requested the women be recruited into Hebrew units, this was only partially fulfilled, with most women being dispersed across various ATS units in the Middle East. Nevertheless, these women were promised special recognition and the use of Hebrew as an official language among recruits.

Despite numerous challenges, approximately 4,500 women volunteered for the ATS, with about 700 joining the Women’s Air Auxiliary Corps. These women took on diverse roles, serving in locations such as Cairo, Alexandria, Bari, and Rome. Their tasks ranged from ambulance driving to combat support for the Jewish Brigade.

The contribution of Jewish women during World War II was invaluable. Upon their return, they brought back extensive military experience, laying the groundwork for the IDF Women’s Corps and a conceptual revolution regarding women’s ability to serve in any position — a notion that continues in the IDF to this day. The IDF Women’s Corps, entrusted to pioneers like Sarah Braverman, the only female soldier who returned from the paratrooper mission in Europe, and Shoshana Gershonovich, marked a significant step forward in Jewish women’s struggles toward equality.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day this week,  let us honor their legacy remarkable achievements, and unwavering commitment to building and protecting Israel.