Joint Issue: Israel - Estonia Litvinsky House, Tel Aviv
Israel – 70 years, Estonia – 100 years
Israeli Stamps issued August 2018
 
Estonia and Israel celebrated the 25th anniversary of establishing 
diplomatic relations in 2017. The State of Israel recognized the 
Republic of Estonia in September 1991 and diplomatic relations 
were established on January 9, 1992. Interestingly, the diplomatic 
ties between Estonia and the region of Palestine have a longer history. 
The Republic of Estonia appointed an Honorary Consul to the British 
Governor of Palestine in 1929 and the Honorary Consulate of the 
Republic of Estonia was located at Litwinsky House.

Today, Estonia and the State of Israel consider themselves similar 
in many ways. Both countries are proud of being modern young states 
ready to accept the technological and security challenges of the 
21st century. Both countries are recognized world leaders in the IT and 
cyber security realm (Estonia and Israel are among the founding members 
of the Digital 5 Countries international forum) and both boast an 
impressive number of start-up companies. The contacts and cooperation 
between Estonia and Israel, in their private as well as public sectors, 
are expanding to include the whole realm of economic and technological 
innovation. 

A Jewish presence in Estonia was first recorded in 1333, but their numbers 
remained small until the 18th century. The Republic of Estonia granted Jews 
cultural autonomy in 1926 – the first country in Europe to do so. 
This cultural autonomy was renounced in 1940 as a result of the Soviet 
occupation and restored after Estonia regained its independence in 1991.

Today there is a smaller, but very dynamic and active Jewish community 
in Estonia, numbering approximately 2000 members. There is a synagogue 
(reopened in 2010) and Jewish Cultural Center in Tallinn as well as a 
Jewish school, kindergarten and social center.

Many Estonian Jews have made Aliyah to Israel during various pre-war 
or later periods and some 800 Estonian citizens live in Israel today. 
The number of those Israeli citizens who have other historical ties 
with Estonia is higher, as many as 2000.

LITWINSKY HOUSE

The Litwinsky House is an outstanding architectural building in Tel Aviv. 
It was built by Yaakov Elhanan Litwinsky (1852-1916), a well-known 
businessman who immigrated from Odessa. Before that he had purchased one 
of the original sixty-six lots in Ahuzat Bayit, the nucleus of the 
future Tel Aviv. The house he built with his family at 22 Achad Ha'am Street 
was one of the most impressive homes in the new neighborhood.

In the 1930’s the son of Yaakov Litwinsky, Mr. Maurice Litwinsky (1888-1951), 
played a noteworthy role developing political and economic relations between 
the Republic of Estonia and (then) Palestine. Maurice Litwinsky was appointed 
Honorary Consul of Estonia in Jaffe and Tel Aviv on April 5th, 1929 by the 
Foreign Minister of Estonia. The Consulate was officially opened on May 15th, 1930.
Mr. Maurice Litwinsky, a well-known personality in Tel Aviv, was active 
in banking and trade but did not limit his activities to promoting business 
and consular issues. He also established contacts between several Jewish and 
Estonian educational institutions, libraries and publishing houses. 
These contacts lasted until the beginning of World War II.

Maurice Litwinsky's consular office was located on the second floor of the 
Litwinsky House. A grand shield with the National Coat of Arms of Estonia 
was provided by the Foreign Ministry of Estonia to indicate the location of 
the consular post. It was hung on the facade of the second floor, where it 
served as another visible element along with the original architectural design. 
This shield has been preserved by the Litwinsky family over the years.
The next owners, Acro Real Estate and Canada Israel Group, preserved and 
restored the house based on a conservation plan by Amnon Bar Or & Co. 
Architects Ltd. The aim was to restore the building back to its original 
1930’s form.

Today the residents of Tel Aviv and tourists, including citizens of Estonia 
visiting Israel, can admire the professionally restored Litwinsky House, 
as restored to its original architectural idea. When visiting, one can 
stop and take a moment to look back at the historical mix of architecture 
and diplomacy that the Litwinsky House embodies.

H.E Mr. Sulev Kannike - Ammbassador of the Republic of Estoia

* The stamp features a photograph of the Litwinski house from a booklet 
by the Litwinski brothers. Our thanks to Shai Farkash, who documents 
and preservrs murals and architetctural color.