The capital of Jerusalem is known for its historical sites and timeless allure, but no 3000-year-old beauty would say
no to a little nip and tuck. In recent years Jerusalem has been transforming and improving its appearance. Projects
such as the founding of the Mamilla shopping center and the Jerusalem Light Rail are just some of the manifestations
of this trend of renewal and rejuvenation. Now, the Central Zionist Archives' management is happy to announce that
the Archives is to be included in this process. Recently, a plan for the upgrading of the Archives' complex has been
approved, as part of a wider plan for the renewal of the western entrance to the city. According to this plan, the
complex of the International Congress Center, adjacent to the Archives, is set to become a business and commercial
center, bustling with activity. The future complex will include hotels, restaurants and other places of business. The plot
on the other side of the Archives is to be the new home of the Israel State Archives, now in Talpiyot. As part of the
expansion of the complex, the Archives, now lurking almost clandestinely behind the highway, is to be the heart of a
lively new business, commercial and cultural center.
The Zionist Archives have come a long way since its founding in 1919 in Berlin. Following the Nazi rise to power in
1933, the Archives was transferred to Palestine, and was housed in the building of the National Institutions. After the
founding of the State, the Archives' collections grew rapidly, especially after the Zionist congress of 1956 that
established the Archives as the official archive of the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency. During the
years, lack of sufficient storage space prompted the Archives to store material in various locations around the city. In
the mid 80's it was decided to relocate the Archive in its entirety to a new building that was inaugurated in 1987,
where it resides to this day. Some staff members still remember the first days of the new building, when the paint was
still fresh on the walls and a sense of a new beginning filled the air.