Rachel Yanait Ben Zvi (1886-1920)

This collection of photographs is a visual representation from various periods in the life of Rachel Yanait Lishinsky, starting with her youth when she completed her studies at the Russian Gymnasia, her trip to Zitomir and Kiev, her becoming active in the Zionist Workers Party, her participation as a delegate from Malin to the 7th Jewish Congress that took place in Basel Switzerland (1905) and up until her widespread activities in the 1920's. In 1905 Rachel Yanait found her way to the Yana University in Germany where she studied Botany and Zoology. In Berlin she met Dov Bar Borochov who had a great influence on her. She returned to Russia, dedicating all her time to political activities. She first met Yitzchak Ben-Zvi in Poltova (1906). For the next two years Rachel devoted her time to political activities and to strengthening the independent Jewish defense in the country. She propagated the philosophy and ideas of the Worker's of Zion throughout the different communities, delving into the plans and programs of the party. Rachel Yanait made aliyah to Israel in 1908 on her own. Her desire to live a 'different kind of life' here can be demonstrated by one small but symbolic change she made- changing her name from Golda Lishinsky to Rachel Yanait. Rachel travelled in a number of circles. Upon her arrival she met with her old friend, Yitzchak Ben-Zvi. He was more than just a friend. He was a partner in her chosen way: The Zionist Worker's Party, choosing Jerusalem as their home, one of the staff at the Hebrew Gymnasia in Jerusalem, as a member of the editorial staff of "Ha'achdut", as a teacher, through joint excursions throughout Israel and its environs. She devoted most of her time to two major activities: teaching in the first secular national school- the Hebrew Gymnasia in Jerusalem and editing the newspaper of the Zionist Worker's Party. In the summer of 1910 the first Israeli Hebrew socialist newspaper was published. Rachel was one of four editors of the newspaper. The newspaper was one of the major tools for the dissemination of the Party's ideas and education of the workers in Israel. During the period of WWI, Rachel was active in purchasing weapons for the 'Shomer' organization. During the first three years Rachel spent in Israel she did not work in the field of agriculture. When Yitzchak Ben-Zvi left Israel to study Law in Kushta, Rachel travelled to Nancy, France to study agriculture. When the winds of war started blowing in July 1914, Rachel's mother, father and sister, who had since made aliyah and lived in Israel, urged her to return. During the war, Rachel stayed in Israel. She served as a liaison between the Shomer organization and the Zionist Worker's Party in Israel and abroad, in addition to working in agriculture, in, among other places, the experimental farm of Aharon Aharonson, in Atlit. At the start of the British Mandate in Palestine Rachel was chosen to the temporary Board of Directors and then as a permanent delegate and founder of the Achdut Avodah Party. She participated in the founding conference of the General Workers Organization and was one of the founders of the Women's Workers Council. She travelled abroad as a representative of various organizations and was involved in issues of security. She married Yitzchak Ben-Zvi in 1918. In 1919 Rachel established, with the assistance of Avraham Hertzfeld, the founder of the General Worker's Organization, a plant nursery in the Bucharan neighborhood in Jerusalem. It's purpose was to provide seedlings for reforestation. (See the collection of Rachel Yanait's "Learning Farm" and the Women's Workers Farm in Jerusalem. YBZ.0142). This collection is a part of the photographic archives of Yitzchak and Rachel Yanait Ben-Zvi. The archive includes family photographs, as well as pictures of public and professional activities. The earliest pictures are from their life and activities in Russia before WWI. It focuses on the period of their public activities and their research in Israel and its surroundings during the period of the 'Yishuv' (1907-1948), and during the years of his presidency (1952-1963). It includes photographs of Rachel Yanait Ben-Zvi's activities after the death of her husband (1963-1978). Additional sections of this photographic archive will be uploaded in the near future. The Artist Ira Yan ( The pen name of the artist and author Esther Yoslevitch Slifan: Esther was born in Kishinev, Russia in 1869. As a young girl she moved to Odessa. In her father's home she met many revolutionaries, including Dimitri Slifan, a member of the Socialist Revolutionaries Party, whom she later married. In 1903 she first met the poet Chaim Nachman Bialik about who she wrote, "I was thrilled to have met with our great poet, who brought me back to my people, who brought me back to myself." In 1906 she separated from her husband and came to Israel with their daughter, Lena. Two years later she settled in Jerusalem and joined the 'New Jerusalem Club'. Other members of the club were Rachel Yanait Ben-Zvi, Boris Shatz, Yehoshua Barzilai and other. They all lived in a commune near the Bezalel Art Academy. Ira Yan translated Bialik's poems, "Scrolls of Fire" and "Very Few" into Russian. She enjoyed walking around Jerusalem with Rachel and Yitzchak Ben-Zvi and became a soul-mate with Rachel Yanait. She drew many pictures of scenes of Jerusalem in her studio, near the Bezalel School. She was also one of the founders of the Hebrew Gymnasia in Rehavia, where she taught drawing classes. With the outbreak of WWI she and the staff of the gymnasia, as well as many members of the commune, moved to Tel Aviv to Beit Adler. She continued to teach drawing in the Hebrew Gymnasia in Herzeliya. In 1917 when the Jews and Russian citizens of Tel Aviv were expelled, Ira was sent to Alexandria, Egypt. She lived in poverty and became ill with tuberculosis. Her pictures were hastily hidden and upon her return she was not able to find them. After two years, in 1919 she passed away from the tuberculosis and a broken heart. She was buried in the Trumpeldor cemetery in Tel-Aviv. Rachel Yanait published a book in her memory that tells about their long-term friendship and includes a collection of her drawings, the few that remained. The book was published by M. Newman, Ltd., 1965. Read more