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Cultural sites

Simon Rokach House

The house, designed by an Austrian architect and built in 1887, was considered the largest and most splendid "palace" of Neve Tzedek. Simon Rockach was the leader of Jaffa's Jewish community, a merchant and a leading pioneer of citrus growing in Pre-State Israel. He turned his house into a meeting place for community leaders and a place for social gatherings. Rockach's children were also involved in public affairs. In 1984, Simon Rokach's granddaughter, sculptor Lea Majaro-Mintz, purchased the house, which by the was already in ruins, renovated it and restored its dignity. The Rokach House includes a permanent exhibition of Lea Majaro-Mintz' works of art, a display of the family's history, and a film about the house. Go to website
 

Guttmann Museum/Writers' House

At the beginning of the 20th century, Neve Tzedek was a prominent focus of Hebrew literature and journalism. Three important literary figures- editor Yossef Aharonovitz, and writers Dvora Baron, and Yossef Haim Brener- renter apartments in the Shulman residence at the time, hence its nickname. Yossef Aharonovitz edited and published here the labor movement's main journal, "HaPoel Ha Tsair" (The young laborer). Later on, he also established and managed the "HaPoalim" bank. His wife, Dvora Baron, is now considered among the most prominent female Israeli writers. Y.H. Brenner, an essayist, critic, commentator, translator, novelist and poet, was the most prominent literary figure in Pre-State Israel. He was murdered by Arab rioters in Jaffa, during the bloody clashes of May 1921.

 

Suzanne Dellal Center for Dance and Theatre

In 1908, Jaffa's Jewish community founded here its "Education District", with two buildings facing each other: The Zionist movement Hovevei Zion's girl school (later named "Yehieli") and the Alliance Francaise' boys school, "Kol Israel Haverim". Both schools were closed in 1975. In 1989 the buildings were renovated and converted into an artistic and cultural complex in memory of Susanne Dellal, now housing the Bat Sheva Dance Company, the Neve Tzedk Theatre and the Inbal Dance Company. The large stone-paved piazza between the buildings, crisscrossed with water channels flowing among citrus trees, is homage to Jaffa's bygone orchards. Go to website