Shoshana Halevy

Shoshana Halevy nee Diament (1906-1985) 5666-5745 was born in Tzefat, fifth generation in Israel. She studied chemistry for 4 years in the first class in the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus. She was the first Secretary of the Student's Union. She also studied History of the Jewish People and Jewish studies at the University. Shoshana Halevy worked for decades as a bibliographer in the Hebrew Department of the National and University Library. She was one of the founders of the study of the history of the Old Yishuv and of the history of printing and the history of Hebrew books and newspapers in Eretz Israel. Her biography "The First Books of Jerusalem", was published by Yad Ben-Zvi in two editions. As a researcher and bibliographer, writer and folklorist, her research and publications were full of knowledge and rich in the vitality and flavor of the times. She was fluent in many languages-Hebrew, Arabic, Yiddish, English, French, German, Italian and Turkish which enabled her to use primary sources in her research. She studied drawing and sculpture in Bezalel and volunteered extensively in social issues and immigrant absorption. She married Dr. Asher Halevy in 1931, a 9th generation Jerusalemite. Their home in Rehavia was a meeting place for intellectuals, writers and artists. The collection of photographs presented here includes photographs and documents, some of which were published in the framework of her research and in the book 'Parshiot Bereishit in the History of the Yishuv'. By: Shoshana's daughter Ada Friedman nee Halevy Read more