Auction 018 Online Auction – Jewish and Israeli History, Art and Culture
Jan 23, 2019 (Your local time)
Israel
 8 Ramban St, Jerusalem.
The auction has ended

LOT 449:

Withdrawn. Collection of Documents – The question of Who is a Jew – State of Israel – Jerusalem, 1958

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Sold for: $160
Start price:
$ 120
Auction house commission: 25%
VAT: On commission only
tags:

Withdrawn.

A dozen documents, recording the governmental discussions to define Jews according to the State of Israel laws. Jerusalem, 1958 (one document from 1960).
The question of "Who is a Jew" was first raised in 1958, when the Minister of Interior at the time, Israel Bar Yehudah decided to register as a Jew every person who declares "in good faith" that he is a Jew. These instructions aroused fierce opposition on the part of the religious public, led to the withdrawal of the Mafdal party from the government, to an upheaval and, finally, to a change in this definition.
Offered here are mimeographed typewritten documents recording the various disputes, discussions and decisions. Among them: a booklet prepared by the Interior Minister for the Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, with a summary of the history of religion and nationality registrations in the State of Israel (classified, by hand, on the top margin of the first page "Internal - not for publication"); a guide for the Ministry of Interior, Wing for Immigration and Registration, with instructions to register as Jews those who declare "in good faith" that they are Jewish; a letter of opposition to the definition which appears in said booklet, on behalf of Minister of Religions Haim Moshe Shapira; additional letter of opposition on behalf of Deputy Minister of Religions, Zerach Warhaftig; letter of resignation from the government by Haim Moshe Shapira, following the new instructions for registration of Jews; a letter from 1960 by David Ben Gurion to Haim Moshe Shapira, with the principals of the coalitional agreement to return the Mafdal party to the government, with an obligation to cancel the previous instructions for registration of Jews; and more.
Handwritten inscriptions on a number of pages.
Size and condition vary. Good overall condition. Minor blemishes and filing holes to some documents.


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