Draft:Pinchas Lachowitzky

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Pinchas Lachowitzky (1893-1965), painter, designer, and architect, native of Pinsk (today in Belarus). Immigrated to Ottoman Palestine in 1912, and was trained at the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts, Jerusalem. Volunteered to join the Zion Mule Corps of the British army during World War I, and served with them until the end of the war; fought in Gallipoli, and was decorated for his service. Employed by the Municipality of Jerusalem as a draftsman and surveyor, and designed Modernist-style buildings in the city. Functioned as a prominent member – and eventually the first president – of the Esperanto-Ligo en Israelo (Israeli Esperanto League). Died in Jerusalem.

Early Life

Pinchas Michael Lochowitzky was born 28 August 1892, to traditional Jewish parents of Russian nationality, in Pinsk (now Belarus). The antisemitic sentiment in the region was often the cause of many hardships to the Jews of Pinsk, with overpopulation and indigenous living quarters, which exemplified the early life of Pinchas. In 1908, with the wave of the Zionist movement which swept the Pinsk Jews in a fervent nationalist idealism, Pinchas Lachowitzky visited Palestine and stayed there for close to a year, first residing in Jerusalem with his Maternal Grandfather, Zevulun Rossin, and then studying at the Jaffa Gymnasium of Dr Yehuda Leib Matmon Cohen. He returned in 1909 to his native Pinsk to finish his studies, continuing afterwards at the "Politechnicom" in Odessa where he joined a Jewish socialist students union "Poalei Zion". It was there that he discovered his affection to art, and starting in the evenings begun to study art as a hobby under his uncle, Moshe Rossin, a famous artist and one of the Court Jewelers of Czar Nikolai. In 1912, when Pinchas heard of the opening of "Bezalel School of Art" in Jerusalem, he immediately sent a letter o pplication addressed "To the Hed of Bezalel Institute", explaining his deep love and affection to the arts, and "drawing skills which burn within me", and was accepted promptly. He arrived in Palestine with his Paternal Grandfather, Rabbi Yehuda Moshe Leib Lachowitzky, settled in Jerusalem, where he begun studying at the Bezalel School of Arts under his new mentor Boris Schatz.

Studying Art at the Bezalel School of Art The Bezalel School of Art, established by Boris Schatz in 1912, was a place of international renown, in which many Jewish artists discovered their skills under the close guidance of the faculty. Pinchas spent there three enriching years full of exciting and stimulating experiences. As he would ater write in his diary, the building in which the academy was situated was dull, drab, and dreary, full of dampness and mold. But the student body was fired with a deep-seated love of the Arts they were learning, and they overcome the lack o physical facilities. They formed a tight-knit group, enjoying life together, celebrating festivals together, and offering each other emotional support. The warm and pleasant atmosphere in the Bezalel School, gave Pinchas and his fellow students the motivation to succeed, and they all felt closely connected to their mentors, Boris Schatz especially.

First World War

As the winds of war swept over Palestine, Pinchas travelled south to Egypt, where he found himself a position as a translator and proofreader of ancient manuscripts, in order to avoid being drafted into the Turkish war forces. As After the war, returning to Jerusalem, he enrolled in a course of surveyors and lithographers on behalf of the newly-installed British Governmental Mandate. He found a job at the City Hall, and simultaneously enrolled at Bennet College to major in Architecture, at the behest of the British Consulate. He started his career under the Architect George Shiber in his office at Jaffa Gate, continuing there until 1929.

Bezalel Exhibition of 1925

In 1925, at the suggestion of the faculty at Bezalel, Pinchas joined many alumni in participating at the International Exhibitiob of Artwork by Bezalel. His works drew much admiration and praise, and at the culmination of the event he received an official certificate, signed by Boris Schatz himself, and dated 25 December 1924, presenting him with a Premium Second Grade for his art accomplishments. This certificate was also a letter of recommendation, and indeed he was commissioned by famous authors to illustrate on their behalf. He made works of art for Mendele Mocher Seforim, Sholom Aleichem and others.

His Artwork

Although, aside for that exhibition he never made his artwork public, as he went on to be the Cartographer for the City, he created many sketches of local areas in Jerusalem, besides for designing architectural plans for buildings in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. As with many artists, he signed his name differently at many different stages in his career. Sometimes in English and sometimes in Hebrew, where his original preferred spelling in the European style, פ ליאחוביצקי, afterwards he adapted it to a shorter פ ליכוביצקי. He would sometimes also stamp his pieces with an official stamp' describing himself as an Artist, Draughtsman and Surveyor.

Works

• Elijah's ascension, watercolour, A2 coloured poster, captioned אליהו בעלותו השמימה. Signed in English, dated 1924.
• Elijah and the Angel in the Wilderness, brown ink on paper, captioned המלאך לפני אליהו במדבר. Unsigned, undated.
• Sholom Aleichem, watercolour, A2 coloured poster, captioned הבה אספר לכם ספור... טוביה החלבן בדרכו לכתריאליבקה. Unsigned, undated.
• Eliezer Ben Yehuda in his study. Black ink on paper, captioned אליעזר בן יהודה היה אומר: דבר עברית – והבראת. יוצר המלון האנציקלופדי העברי הגדול, נולד כ"א טבת התרי"ח, נפטר כ"ו סלו התרפ"ג. Signed in Hebrew nd English. Dated 20/1/26.
• ה שבט תרפו ) Under the Figtree. Watercolour, full-coloured Poster, captioned תחת התאנה. Signed in English, dated 12.1.24
• David and Goliath, Charcoal on Paper, Signed in Hebrew, undated.
• Western Wall, brown ink on paper, unfinished, unsigned. Captioned ע"י כותל המערבי
• Succah Decoration, Captioned ברוך אתה בבואך, (Welcome to you as you enter). 1920s.
• Plaster Design, elaborate floral décor. Brown ink on paper. Captioned גבס א'. Signed in Hebrew and English. Dated 14/2/26 10) Plaster Design, elaborate floral décor. Brown ink on paper. Uncaptioned. Signed in English. Dated 27/10/20 11) Shepherd and Goats, Brown ink on paper, unfinished, undated, unsigned 12) Yemenite Jew, Signed in Hebrew.

Pinchas Lachowitzky - Other Areas of Public Activity

Military Activity The historic era between the Two World Wars, in which Pinchas lived in Jerusalem, was fraught with poverty and violence, amid interracial tension between the Jewish and Arab populations, which was exacerbated by the National idealism of both Zionism and Palestinian Movements. People with colourful personalities like Pinchas were forced to be active in other areas than their primary vocation. As a loyal citizen, in WW1, Pinchas defended the homeland as a member of the "Zion Mule Corps", receiving a War Medal for his service in Gallipoli. In the Arab revolt of 1936, Pinchas volunteered as a Special Constable or the Palestine Police Force and received a lettee o thanks from the Inspetor-General for his contribution. In 1936, the Fire-fighter Department in Jerusalem was established, and its first Chiefs were Chief Roy, Chief Neumark, with their deputy, Pinchas Lachowitzky. He remained active until his resignation in 1942, and was awaerded a Silver Medal for his work.

Architect of the City In the 1920s, Pinchas was employed as a foreman and draughtsman for the architect M Shiber, in Jerusalem, at Jaffa Gate. In the early 1930s, Pinchas was employed to teach Art, at the Bucharim Quarter School of Jerusalem, and as an Alumnus of the Bezalel School of Art, proved very successful. As he realised the educational vacuum he undertook to teach other topics too, in both religious and secular studies, and to establish an educational curriculum within the institution. In 1935, Pinchas received his Diploma from Bennett College in Building and Architecture, and begun to work as an architect. He was unofficially called "the architect" due to his popularity, and he did many projects as architectural draughtsman for the City of Jerusalem. In his post as Architect of Jerusalem, he designed Jewish buildings in eclectic style, as a compromise between European an Oriental styles, and Muslim buildings in classic Islamic style. In uncharacteristic contrast to his strong Jewish personality, he was very popular in the Islamic community, nicknamed "Hawajja Pinchas", and he was actually invited to visit King Abdallah I of Jordan. In 1933, he was active in establishing Building Unions for the Working Class, and was nominated as member of the Jerusalem Sephardic Committee, despite not being Sephardic. His actuivity in the 1930s brought around many urban changes in the Bet Israel, Meah Shearim, Kerem, Rechaviah, Machane Yehudah, Nachlat Achim, Neve Bezalel, and Bucharim neighborhoods of Jerusalem.

Esperanto League In 1924, Pinchas established the Esperanto League of Jerusalem with Nathan Benzion Havkin, and Emanuel Olswanger, Grodonsky, and Joseph Cohen-Zedek. Pinchas actually took to giving evening lessons at the Lemel Academy in Jerusalem in the study of Esperanto. He prticipted in editing the Esperanto Encyclopaedia, and in 1926 was appointed president "Chef

Delegito de Esperanto en Israel". In 1938 the JELI (Junulana Esperanto-Ligo Israela) was established to promote tolerance and interracial harmony, and he was a central figure from its inception. In 1934 Pinchas was instrumental in naming Zamenhof Street in Central Tel-Aviv in memory of Esperanto pioneeer Dr Eliezer Zamenhoff. Similarly, in 1950, many years later, Pinchas used his connections in City Hall to name Zamenhoff Street in Rechavia, Jerusalem, in his memory. Sources

Ha'aretz, 16/7/64, page 9. Our Parents in the Arms of the Era, by Etty Lachovitzky, Jerusalem 2017 Jerusalem Triangle, Urban Biography, by David Krauinker

Is this the start of the article?

Pinchas Lachowitzky (1893-1965), painter, designer, and architect, native of Pinsk (today in Belarus). Immigrated to Ottoman Palestine in 1912, and was trained at the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts, Jerusalem. Volunteered to join the Zion Mule Corps of the British army during World War I, and served with them until the end of the war; fought in Gallipoli, and was decorated for his service. Employed by the Municipality of Jerusalem as a draftsman and surveyor, and designed Modernist-style buildings in the city. Functioned as a prominent member – and eventually the first president – of the Esperanto-Ligo en Israelo (Israeli Esperanto League). Died in Jerusalem.

Early Life

Pinchas Michael Lochowitzky was born 28 August 1892, to traditional Jewish parents of Russian nationality, in Pinsk (now Belarus). The antisemitic sentiment in the region was often the cause of many hardships to the Jews of Pinsk, with overpopulation and indigenous living quarters, which exemplified the early life of Pinchas. In 1908, with the wave of the Zionist movement which swept the Pinsk Jews in a fervent nationalist idealism, Pinchas Lachowitzky visited Palestine and stayed there for close to a year, first residing in Jerusalem with his Maternal Grandfather, Zevulun Rossin, and then studying at the Jaffa Gymnasium of Dr Yehuda Leib Matmon Cohen. He returned in 1909 to his native Pinsk to finish his studies, continuing afterwards at the "Politechnicom" in Odessa where he joined a Jewish socialist students union "Poalei Zion". It was there that he discovered his affection to art, and starting in the evenings begun to study art as a hobby under his uncle, Moshe Rossin, a famous artist and one of the Court Jewelers of Czar Nikolai. In 1912, when Pinchas heard of the opening of "Bezalel School of Art" in Jerusalem, he immediately sent a letter o pplication addressed "To the Hed of Bezalel Institute", explaining his deep love and affection to the arts, and "drawing skills which burn within me", and was accepted promptly. He arrived in Palestine with his Paternal Grandfather, Rabbi Yehuda Moshe Leib Lachowitzky, settled in Jerusalem, where he begun studying at the Bezalel School of Arts under his new mentor Boris Schatz.

Studying Art at the Bezalel School of Art

The Bezalel School of Art, established by Boris Schatz in 1912, was a place of international renown, in which many Jewish artists discovered their skills under the close guidance of the faculty. Pinchas spent there three enriching years full of exciting and stimulating experiences. As he would ater write in his diary, the building in which the academy was situated was dull, drab, and dreary, full of dampness and mold. But the student body was fired with a deep-seated love of the Arts they were learning, and they overcome the lack o physical facilities. They formed a tight-knit group, enjoying life together, celebrating festivals together, and offering each other emotional support. The warm and pleasant atmosphere in the Bezalel School, gave Pinchas and his fellow students the motivation to succeed, and they all felt closely connected to their mentors, Boris Schatz especially.

First World War

As the winds of war swept over Palestine, Pinchas travelled south to Egypt, where he found himself a position as a translator and proofreader of ancient manuscripts, in order to avoid being drafted into the Turkish war forces. As After the war, returning to Jerusalem, he enrolled in a course of surveyors and lithographers on behalf of the newly-installed British Governmental Mandate. He found a job at the City Hall, and simultaneously enrolled at Bennet College to major in Architecture, at the behest of the British Consulate. He started his career under the Architect George Shiber in his office at Jaffa Gate, continuing there until 1929.

Bezalel Exhibition of 1925

In 1925, at the suggestion of the faculty at Bezalel, Pinchas joined many alumni in participating at the International Exhibitiob of Artwork by Bezalel. His works drew much admiration and praise, and at the culmination of the event he received an official certificate, signed by Boris Schatz himself, and dated 25 December 1924, presenting him with a Premium Second Grade for his art accomplishments. This certificate was also a letter of recommendation, and indeed he was commissioned by famous authors to illustrate on their behalf. He made works of art for Mendele Mocher Seforim, Sholom Aleichem and others.

His Artwork

Although, aside for that exhibition he never made his artwork public, as he went on to be the Cartographer for the City, he created many sketches of local areas in Jerusalem, besides for designing architectural plans for buildings in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. As with many artists, he signed his name differently at many different stages in his career. Sometimes in English and sometimes in Hebrew, where his original preferred spelling in the European style, פ ליאחוביצקי, afterwards he adapted it to a shorter פ ליכוביצקי. He would sometimes also stamp his pieces with an official stamp' describing himself as an Artist, Draughtsman and Surveyor.

Some of his Works:

• Elijah's ascension, watercolour, A2 coloured poster, captioned אליהו בעלותו השמימה. Signed in English, dated 1924.
• Elijah and the Angel in the Wilderness, brown ink on paper, captioned המלאך לפני אליהו במדבר. Unsigned, undated.
• Sholom Aleichem, watercolour, A2 coloured poster, captioned הבה אספר לכם ספור... טוביה החלבן בדרכו לכתריאליבקה. Unsigned, undated.
• Eliezer Ben Yehuda in his study. Black ink on paper, captioned אליעזר בן יהודה היה אומר: דבר עברית – והבראת. יוצר המלון האנציקלופדי העברי הגדול, נולד כ"א טבת התרי"ח, נפטר כ"ו סלו התרפ"ג. Signed in Hebrew nd English. Dated 20/1/26. ה שבט תרפו
• Under the Figtree. Watercolour, full-coloured Poster, captioned תחת התאנה. Signed in English, dated 12.1.24
• David and Goliath, Charcoal on Paper, Signed in Hebrew, undated.
• Western Wall, brown ink on paper, unfinished, unsigned. Captioned ע"י כותל המערבי

• 

  Succah decoration by Lachowitzky, 1920s

• Plaster Design, elaborate floral décor. Brown ink on paper. Captioned גבס א'. Signed in Hebrew and English. Dated 14/2/26
• Plaster Design, elaborate floral décor. Brown ink on paper. Uncaptioned. Signed in English. Dated 27/10/20
• Shepherd and Goats, Brown ink on paper, unfinished, undated, unsigned
• Yemenite Jew, Signed in Hebrew.

Military Activity

The historic era between the Two World Wars, in which Pinchas lived in Jerusalem, was fraught with poverty and violence, amid interracial tension between the Jewish and Arab populations, which was exacerbated by the National idealism of both Zionism and Palestinian Movements. People with colourful personalities like Pinchas were forced to be active in other areas than their primary vocation. As a loyal citizen, in WW1, Pinchas defended the homeland as a member of the "Zion Mule Corps", receiving a War Medal for his service in Gallipoli. In the Arab revolt of 1936, Pinchas volunteered as a Special Constable or the Palestine Police Force and received a lettee o thanks from the Inspetor-General for his contribution. In 1936, the Fire-fighter Department in Jerusalem was established, and its first Chiefs were Chief Roy, Chief Neumark, with their deputy, Pinchas Lachowitzky. He remained active until his resignation in 1942, and was awaerded a Silver Medal for his work.

Architect of the City

In the 1920s, Pinchas was employed as a foreman and draughtsman for the architect M Shiber, in Jerusalem, at Jaffa Gate. In the early 1930s, Pinchas was employed to teach Art, at the Bucharim Quarter School of Jerusalem, and as an Alumnus of the Bezalel School of Art, proved very successful. As he realised the educational vacuum he undertook to teach other topics too, in both religious and secular studies, and to establish an educational curriculum within the institution. In 1935, Pinchas received his Diploma from Bennett College in Building and Architecture, and begun to work as an architect. He was unofficially called "the architect" due to his popularity, and he did many projects as architectural draughtsman for the City of Jerusalem. In his post as Architect of Jerusalem, he designed Jewish buildings in eclectic style, as a compromise between European an Oriental styles, and Muslim buildings in classic Islamic style. In uncharacteristic contrast to his strong Jewish personality, he was very popular in the Islamic community, nicknamed "Hawajja Pinchas", and he was actually invited to visit King Abdallah I of Jordan. In 1933, he was active in establishing Building Unions for the Working Class, and was nominated as member of the Jerusalem Sephardic Committee, despite not being Sephardic. His actuivity in the 1930s brought around many urban changes in the Bet Israel, Meah Shearim, Kerem, Rechaviah, Machane Yehudah, Nachlat Achim, Neve Bezalel, and Bucharim neighborhoods of Jerusalem.

Esperanto League

In 1924, Pinchas established the Esperanto League of Jerusalem with Nathan Benzion Havkin, and Emanuel Olswanger, Grodonsky, and Joseph Cohen-Zedek. Pinchas actually took to giving evening lessons at the Lemel Academy in Jerusalem in the study of Esperanto. He prticipted in editing the Esperanto Encyclopaedia, and in 1926 was appointed president "Chef

Delegito de Esperanto en Israel". In 1938 the JELI (Junulana Esperanto-Ligo Israela) was established to promote tolerance and interracial harmony, and he was a central figure from its inception. In 1934 Pinchas was instrumental in naming Zamenhof Street in Central Tel-Aviv in memory of Esperanto pioneeer Dr Eliezer Zamenhoff. Similarly, in 1950, many years later, Pinchas used his connections in City Hall to name Zamenhoff Street in Rechavia, Jerusalem, in his memory.

General references

• Ha'aretz, 16/7/64, page 9.
• Our Parents in the Arms of the Era, by Etty Lachovitzky, Jerusalem 2017
• Jerusalem Triangle, Urban Biography, by David Krauinker