The Library of Congress has recently digitalized a collection of over 10,000 photographs, taken by the "American Colony" in Jerusalem, a group of Christian utopians who lived in Jerusalem between 1881 and the 1940s. The photographers returned to the US, and bequeathed their massive collection to the Library of Congress in 1978. The collection includes Winston Churchill's visit to Jerusalem, Jewish expulsions from the Old City during Arab riots, and the building of Tel Aviv.
Mentioned in the Book of Joshua, the town of Bnei Brak was well known in Talmudic times as home to the famous Rabbi Akiva (second century CE). The town is also mentioned in the Passover Seder service as a meeting place for the leading rabbis of the Talmud.
American Colony-Jerusalem-Photo Dept
Children play outside of Bnei Brak's synagogue, built in 1928. The synagogue was an important fixture in the town, which attracted and continues to attract many religious Jews.
American Colony-Jerusalem-Photo Dept.
A far cry from the bustling city that it is today, the Bnei Brak pictured (circa 1930) was quiet and surrounded by greenery. Today, the city has over 150,000 residents.
American Colony-Jerusalem-Photo Dept.
In 1922, in an area not far from the ruins of the ancient city of Bnei Brak, a group of Orthodox Jews from Warsaw, Poland purchased land from an Arab village in order to establish a farming community. The town's bank for "agriculture and business" is pictured above, circa 1928.
American Colony-Jerusalem-Photo Dept.
Situated between Tel Aviv, Petach Tikva, and Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak attracted a large population of ultra-Orthodox Jews. The town is pictured here in 1928, just four years after its founding.
In 1922, in an area not far from the ruins of the ancient city of Bnei Brak, a group of Orthodox Jews from Warsaw, Poland purchased land from an Arab village in order to establish a farming community. The town's cornerstone was laid in 1924.
Situated between Tel Aviv, Petach Tikva, and Ramat Gan, the town attracted a large population of ultra-Orthodox Jews.
Today, Bnei Brak is one of Israel's most densely populated cities, with a population of 170,000.
More photos can be viewed at: http://www.israeldailypicture.com.