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(Washington, D.C., Feb. 22, 2022)–The B’nai B’rith World Center and B’nai B’rith Argentina helped to solve what has been described as one of the most curious mysteries in Israel—the identity of the artist who created the large bronze menorah that stands today at one of the two main entrances to the Knesset, the first gift presented by any Jewish community to Israel’s parliament. Although it carries an inscription that clearly indicates the origin of the menorah as a gift from B’nai B’rith in Argentina in 1951, the name of the artist had been lost over time.

The search for the creator of the menorah started with Moshe Foxman Shaal, director of the Knesset Museum, who happened upon an old newspaper clipping from the early 1950s on the presentation of the menorah. Working with B’nai B’rith International Vice President Susan Chalon and leader Eva Strauss, B’nai B’rith World Center director Alan Schneider determined that the Knesset menorah and a nearly identical one displayed at the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires are the work of David Sevi (1889-1971).

Born in Smyrna (Izmir), Turkey, Sevi moved to Ottoman Palestine in 1910 and was educated at the famous Mikveh Yisrael agricultural school, where he later became a teacher and also participated in an expedition to the Negev commissioned by the Ottoman Pasha. He left for Argentina in 1922, where he became a founding member of the B’nai B’rith lodge (later renamed Hijos de la Biblia) in Buenos Aires that opened in 1930 and still operates today. Following first Knesset Speaker Yosef Sprinzak’s visit to Argentina in the early 1950s, B’nai B’rith Argentina decided to raise funds to create a statue in the likening of the ancient Temple menorah, with the aim of gifting it to the Israeli parliament. Sevi was commissioned to create the menorah. The community rallied en masse, raising enough funds to forge two statues: one for the Knesset and one for the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, where it stood until the 1994 bombing of the embassy. The menorah was the only article to survive intact the collapse of the four-story historic building, where an empty commemorative lot sits today, while the menorah adorns Israel’s new embassy in the Argentinian capital.

Sevi came to Mikveh Yisrael during the reign of Yosef Niego as director. Niego, an outstanding agronomist from Adirna in Turkey, later became the president of B’nai B’rith in all the Levant. He was the second principal of the school affiliated with B’nai B’rith, following Ze’ev Hertzberg. Sevi was a member of Congregacion Israelita de la Republic Argentina and enjoyed sculpture as a hobby. He died on Aug. 21, 1971 and is buried in the La Tablada Jewish cemetery.

The Knesset menorah was rededicated on Feb. 22—Sevi’s 133rd birthday—during the annual mission to Israel by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations with the participation of B’nai B’rith International President Seth J. Riklin, CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin and Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy. A special plaque recognizing Sevi’s contribution was installed. Levy said, “We are happy that David Sevi is recognized on the 70th anniversary of the menorah’s arrival [in Israel] and we are proud of the deep friendships between Israel and Diaspora Jewry.”

Mariaschin said that, just as the newspaper article reported, the Menorah did in fact arrive to the Knesset’s former location at Beit Froumine on King George Street in downtown Jerusalem, where it was displayed with pride on the roof of the building during successive Hannukah holidays. When the Knesset moved to its new purpose-built building in Givat Ram in 1966, the Menorah was prominently displayed for years until it was moved just outside the new Kedma Wing, drawing attention to the likeness to the Menorah described in the Torah and the bas-relief work on the base representing the twelve tribes.

Mariaschin noted that B’nai B’rith continues to research the events surrounding the decision of the lodge to sponsor these beautiful endorsements of the fledging state of Israel and of the persona of David Sevi.

View the ceremony here.

B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit bnaibrith.org.