To our left stands the Levin House, one of Tel Aviv's most stunning buildings and a silent witness to the city’s layered and vibrant history. Built in 1924 by Yehuda Magidovitch for Yaakov Zvi Levin, an American Jew from Chicago, the house reflects the unique style of its architect. Magidovitch, originally from Uman, Ukraine, studied architecture in Odesa before immigrating to Palestine in 1919 aboard the famous Ruslan. In Tel Aviv, he became the city’s first municipal architect, leaving his mark with several iconic buildings, including the Levin House.
After Levin died in the 1930s, the building was purchased by Zvi Braer, who opened an English-language school on the premises while renting part of the space to the Credit Bank. Over time, the bank evolved into UBANK, a significant financial institution that continues to operate today.
Following Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, the Levin House took on a new role as the Soviet Union's embassy. This period symbolised a dynamic but short-lived collaboration between Israel and the USSR. The Soviet Union played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Jewish state, offering diplomatic support on the international stage and facilitating the supply of arms via Czechoslovakia during Israel’s War of Independence.
However, relations soured in the early 1950s, culminating in a tragic incident in February 1953. A bomb exploded in the building, orchestrated by protestors in response to Stalin's brutal repression of members of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee, most of whom were Jewish. This event led to a complete severance of diplomatic ties between Israel and the Soviet Union. While the relationship was partially restored after Stalin's death, tensions flared again during the Six-Day War in 1967, when the USSR sided with Arab nations, resulting in a final diplomatic break.
It wasn’t until the late 1980s, during Mikhail Gorbachev’s era of perestroika, that relations between Israel and the Soviet Union were revived. This period also saw the mass aliyah of Soviet Jews, a migration that profoundly reshaped Israeli society. Among these immigrants were engineers and architects who contributed to restoring Tel Aviv's historic buildings, including the Levin House.
The Levin House, with its striking facade and rich history, is more than an architectural treasure. It stands as a silent witness to the complex and often turbulent relationship between Israel and the Soviet Union. Its story intertwines the fates, events, and cultures that have shaped modern Israel, serving as a poignant reminder of the city’s resilience and evolution.
Let us begin our journey at Habima Square, a central crossroads in Tel Aviv where Rothschild Boulevard meets Sderot Hen, named after the national poet Haim Nachman Bialik. These boulevards, shaded by elegant ficus trees, are more than just scenic streets—they are the threads of a narrative that weaves through the history of Israel’s founding.
On Sderot Hen, at No. 1, a pivotal moment unfolded on May 13, 1948. Within this modest building, Arab representatives signed a formal agreement of surrender, just one day before the proclamation of Israel’s independence. A few steps away, across Rothschild Boulevard, in the home of Tel Aviv’s first mayor, Meir Dizengoff, David Ben-Gurion stood in a modest living room and declared the establishment of the State of Israel.
This short but profound route between two historic landmarks is a journey through time. It captures the essence of Tel Aviv’s transformation—from a nascent Hebrew city into the cultural and historical heart of modern Israel. Each building, each street, whispers the stories of visionaries and pivotal moments. Walking this path isn’t just about seeing the city; it’s about feeling its pulse, its spirit, and its unique place in history.
