Personalities

Monument to Meir Dizengoff

Monument to Meir Dizengoff in Israel
Monument to Meir Dizengoff in Israel

Meir Dizengoff was among the founding fathers of the small village of Ahuzat Bait, from which Tel Aviv, one of the largest cities in Israel, was soon born. For active participation in the development of the settlement and organizational talent, Dizengoff was first elected head of the tenants’ committee, and then the mayor of Tel Aviv.

Meir was mayor in the city he founded until his death, and even after it he did everything he could for Tel Aviv – he bequeathed all his property to the municipality.

Meir Dizengoff
Meir Dizengoff

Meir’s personal life was rather sad: he and his wife Qina lost their only daughter in infancy. Qing could no longer have children, and they lived together until the very end. After the death of his beloved wife, Dizengoff gave the lower floors of his house to the Museum of Art, leaving only the top floor for himself. It was in this museum that David Ben Gurion proclaimed the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.

Monument to Meir Dizengoff
Monument to Meir Dizengoff

Residents of Tel Aviv were very warm to their mayor, because he loved the city, which he ruled and did everything for its prosperity. Dizengoff examined the results of his work, riding around the streets on horseback.

By the centenary of Tel Aviv, the sculptor David Zundelovich created a monument to Meir Dizengoff. This minimalist monument does not rise above the street on a pompous marble pedestal, it does not shine with gold and does not seek to impress with its size. The mayor simply patrols the streets of his hometown on his trusty horse named Fast.