Israel Rokach, Honorary CBE (Hebrew: ישראל רוקח; December 31, 1896 – September 13, 1959) was an Israeli politician, Knesset member, and fourth mayor of Tel Aviv from November 15, 1936 until April 13, 1953.
Israel Rokach was born in 1896 in Neve Tzedek, then part of Jaffa. His mother was Rachel Rokach (born in 1863). His father, Shimon Rokach (born in 1863), a journalist, was one of the founders of the neighborhood. His grandfather, Israel Beck, revived the Hebrew printing industry in Palestine.[1] Rokach attended a cheder and then an Alliance Israélite Universelle school. He traveled to Switzerland, where he continued his education at a high school in Lausanne and then studied electrical engineering at the Zürich polytechnic.
In 1920, Israel Rokach moved to the United Kingdom, where he worked as an electrical engineer.[citation needed] In 1922, he returned to Jaffa, where he opened a store for electrical supplies.[2] In 1933, Rokach married Esther Epstein.
Rokach died in 1959 and was buried in Trumpeldor Cemetery in Tel Aviv.
Political career
Graves of Israel and Esther Rokach
Rokach's first public position was council member in Jaffa, representing the Jewish neighborhoods of Neve Tzedek, Neve Shalom and Ohel Moshe. In 1922, he was elected to the city council of Tel Aviv, representing the United Centrist List party. In 1929 he was appointed deputy mayor to Meir Dizengoff.
Following Dizengoff's death in 1936, the city council held an emergency election for the office of Mayor. Rokach represented the right-wing parties, but lost to Moshe Chelouche of the workers' parties. Nevertheless, the British High Commissioner forced Rokach's appointment to the mayoral post. Despite public uproar about British intervention in the Jewish democratic process, Rokach went on to serve as mayor of Tel Aviv until 1953.[3] For his great success, he was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[2]
High Commissioner Harold MacMichael with Palestinian Mayors 1942: from left - Israel Rokach (Tel Aviv), Mustafa al-Khalidi (Jerusalem), MacMichael, Omar Effendi al Bitar (Jaffa), Shabtai Levy (Haifa)
During his tenure, Tel Aviv expanded rapidly and its population tripled. Jaffa, Rokach's birthplace, was merged into the city in 1949, giving it a significant population boost, despite Rokach's initial opposition to the merger.
The 1936-39 Arab revolt, World War II and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War all occurred during his tenure, including Operation Hametz - the capture of Jaffa from Arab hands. During this period, Tel Aviv was bombed from the air multiple times, the first being by the Italian Air Force in 1940. After this, underground shelters and loudspeaker systems were built, which also served the population in 1949, when Egyptian Spitfires made strafing runs on the city.[citation needed] In August of 1947, Rokach and other municipal leaders were imprisoned in Latrun for aiding Jewish underground organizations. He was released in September 1947.[2]
In 1952, Israel Rokach delivered a farewell speech and ceased his municipal duties in Tel Aviv. However, he officially continued as mayor until Chaim Levanon was elected to replace him on April 13, 1953.[citation needed] Rokach served as head of the Maccabi World Union. He was a member of the Knesset from its first inception until the third as a member of the General Zionists. In the first and second Knessets, he was also a member of the Finance Committee. In the third Knesset, he also held the position of deputy speaker.[2]
In the fourth and fifth governments, between 1952 and 1955, Israel Rokach served as the Interior Minister of Israel.[2] In 2008, Israel honored him on a postage stamp.
Awards and recognition
Honorary OBE (1938)
Honorary CBE (1945)
The Rokach Prize [he], an Israeli architecture award, is named after him.
References
^"'Jews, the Poet Bialik Will Come Today'". Haaretz. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
^ abcde"חבר הכנסת ישראל רוקח". Knesset (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-12-21.
^Schori, Ilan. "תל אביב שלי - מאמרים - ראש עיר ליום אחד - פרשת בחירתו והדחתו של משה שלוש". www.mytelaviv.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-12-03.
External links
Israel Rokach on the Knesset website
March 08, 2023
israel, rokach, honorary, hebrew, ישראל, רוקח, december, 1896, september, 1959, israeli, politician, knesset, member, fourth, mayor, aviv, from, november, 1936, until, april, 1953, ministerial, roles1952, 1955minister, internal, affairsfaction, represented, kn. Israel Rokach Honorary CBE Hebrew ישראל רוקח December 31 1896 September 13 1959 was an Israeli politician Knesset member and fourth mayor of Tel Aviv from November 15 1936 until April 13 1953 Israel RokachMinisterial roles1952 1955Minister of Internal AffairsFaction represented in the Knesset1949 1959General ZionistsPersonal detailsBorn31 December 1896Jaffa Ottoman EmpireDied13 September 1959 1959 09 13 aged 62 Israel Contents 1 Biography 2 Political career 3 Awards and recognition 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditIsrael Rokach was born in 1896 in Neve Tzedek then part of Jaffa His mother was Rachel Rokach born in 1863 His father Shimon Rokach born in 1863 a journalist was one of the founders of the neighborhood His grandfather Israel Beck revived the Hebrew printing industry in Palestine 1 Rokach attended a cheder and then an Alliance Israelite Universelle school He traveled to Switzerland where he continued his education at a high school in Lausanne and then studied electrical engineering at the Zurich polytechnic In 1920 Israel Rokach moved to the United Kingdom where he worked as an electrical engineer citation needed In 1922 he returned to Jaffa where he opened a store for electrical supplies 2 In 1933 Rokach married Esther Epstein Rokach died in 1959 and was buried in Trumpeldor Cemetery in Tel Aviv Political career Edit Graves of Israel and Esther Rokach Rokach s first public position was council member in Jaffa representing the Jewish neighborhoods of Neve Tzedek Neve Shalom and Ohel Moshe In 1922 he was elected to the city council of Tel Aviv representing the United Centrist List party In 1929 he was appointed deputy mayor to Meir Dizengoff Following Dizengoff s death in 1936 the city council held an emergency election for the office of Mayor Rokach represented the right wing parties but lost to Moshe Chelouche of the workers parties Nevertheless the British High Commissioner forced Rokach s appointment to the mayoral post Despite public uproar about British intervention in the Jewish democratic process Rokach went on to serve as mayor of Tel Aviv until 1953 3 For his great success he was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire 2 High Commissioner Harold MacMichael with Palestinian Mayors 1942 from left Israel Rokach Tel Aviv Mustafa al Khalidi Jerusalem MacMichael Omar Effendi al Bitar Jaffa Shabtai Levy Haifa During his tenure Tel Aviv expanded rapidly and its population tripled Jaffa Rokach s birthplace was merged into the city in 1949 giving it a significant population boost despite Rokach s initial opposition to the merger The 1936 39 Arab revolt World War II and the 1948 Arab Israeli War all occurred during his tenure including Operation Hametz the capture of Jaffa from Arab hands During this period Tel Aviv was bombed from the air multiple times the first being by the Italian Air Force in 1940 After this underground shelters and loudspeaker systems were built which also served the population in 1949 when Egyptian Spitfires made strafing runs on the city citation needed In August of 1947 Rokach and other municipal leaders were imprisoned in Latrun for aiding Jewish underground organizations He was released in September 1947 2 In 1952 Israel Rokach delivered a farewell speech and ceased his municipal duties in Tel Aviv However he officially continued as mayor until Chaim Levanon was elected to replace him on April 13 1953 citation needed Rokach served as head of the Maccabi World Union He was a member of the Knesset from its first inception until the third as a member of the General Zionists In the first and second Knessets he was also a member of the Finance Committee In the third Knesset he also held the position of deputy speaker 2 In the fourth and fifth governments between 1952 and 1955 Israel Rokach served as the Interior Minister of Israel 2 In 2008 Israel honored him on a postage stamp Awards and recognition EditHonorary OBE 1938 Honorary CBE 1945 The Rokach Prize he an Israeli architecture award is named after him References Edit Jews the Poet Bialik Will Come Today Haaretz Retrieved 2022 12 21 a b c d e חבר הכנסת ישראל רוקח Knesset in Hebrew Retrieved 2022 12 21 Schori Ilan תל אביב שלי מאמרים ראש עיר ליום אחד פרשת בחירתו והדחתו של משה שלוש www mytelaviv co il in Hebrew Retrieved 2022 12 03 External links EditIsrael Rokach on the Knesset website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Israel Rokach amp oldid 1134827443, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
