The 120th anniversary of the First Zionist Congress begins this month (August 2017). In honor of the event, the Poster Gallery is dedicated to the Zionist Shekel campaign of the World Zionist Organization.
Prior to the Second Zionist Congress, David Wolffsohn stated that members of the WZO must pay a certain amount as a membership due. This sum would be called the "shekel" after the ancient Hebrew coin. Any person who turned 18 and acquired the Zionist shekel could elect delegates to the Zionist Congress for a year. From the age of 24 the shekel purchaser could also run for a congressional election. The number of delegates from each country sent to congresses would be determined by the amount of shekels sold in the country. Naturally, sales of the Zionist shekel rose towards the Zionist Congresses so that the electorate could elect and be elected as delegates. A member who paid the Zionist shekel received a donation bill designed with images and messages that expressed the Zionist ideas.
The posters below display the Zionist shekel, and call to join the WZO, in order to influence the fate of the Jewish people. Most of the posters present the donation receipt given to shekel purchasers that year, alongside the ancient Hebrew shekel. In addition, the posters contain symbols and texts related to the Zionist Movement and to the outstanding issues at the time, such as World War II, Ha'apala, the establishment of the State of Israel and the connection with the Diaspora.
The beautiful posters chosen for the gallery, were printed in the 1930's, during the difficult period of World War II, and until the 1960's, when the Zionist congresses began to be held in the State of Israel.