Israel's Declaration of Independence Scroll and Ceremony
Wallish was responsible for the calligraphy and design of the scroll for Israel's Declaration of Independence. Due to drafting debates beyond his control, Wallish had only finished the bottom part of the scroll by the time of the signing and announcement. In fact, David Ben-Gurion did not read the actual scroll but had to work from handwritten notes for the public declaration on May 14, 1948. The photograph shown here was taken by Wallish's brother-in-law, Rudi Weissenstein.
Wallish's scroll was prepared in three sections that were bound together. The original Declaration scroll is located in Israel's National Archives. He based the calligraphy style on a Torah scroll from the sixteenth century.
In addition, Walisch handled the preparation of the exhibit hall in which the State's Independence was announced. At the direction of Ben-Gurion and the immediate guidance of Ze'ev Sharef, Secretary of the National Administration, Wallish had the hall cleared of art not related to Jews and Israel. He had the hall's works exchanged for such works as Marc Chagall's "Jew Holding a Scroll."
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