# Mekhon Ben-Tsevi le-ḥeḳer ḳehilot Yiśraʼel ba-Mizraḥ
**Wikidata**: [Q12409168](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12409168)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mekhon-ben-tsevi-le-heker-kehilot-yisrael-ba-mizrah

## Summary
Mekhon Ben-Tsevi le-ḥeḳer ḳehilot Yiśraʼel ba-Mizraḥ (Ben-Zvi Institute for the Study of Jewish Communities in the Middle East) is a research institute and nonprofit organization founded in Jerusalem in 1947 by Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, later Israel’s second president. It focuses on researching and publishing scholarship about Jewish communities in the Middle East, preserving historical and cultural heritage.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: November 26, 1947
- **Founder**: Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, Israel’s second president
- **Location**: Jerusalem, Israel (coordinates: 31.77564570536707° N, 35.21478709039538° E)
- **Type**: Research institute, publishing house, nonprofit organization
- **Identifiers**: VIAF ID 143063688, Library of Congress Authority ID n80056949, Guidestar Israel ID 590000709
- **Website**: https://ybz.org.il/%D7%9E%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%91%D7%9F-%D7%A6%D7%91%D7%99-%D7%9C%D7%97%D7%A8-%D7%A7%D7%94%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C-%D7%91%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97/
- **Address**: אבן גבירול 14, Jerusalem

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Mekhon Ben-Tsevi Institute founded and by whom?
A: The institute was founded on November 26, 1947, by Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, who later served as Israel’s second president.

### Q: What is the primary focus of the institute’s research?
A: It specializes in studying Jewish communities in the Middle East, emphasizing historical, cultural, and social aspects.

### Q: Where is the institute located?
A: It is based in Jerusalem, Israel, at אבן גבירול 14.

## Why It Matters
The Mekhon Ben-Tvi Institute is significant as one of Israel’s earliest research institutions dedicated to documenting and analyzing the history and culture of Jewish communities across the Middle East. Founded shortly after Israel’s establishment, it addresses the need to preserve the heritage of Jewish diasporas in Arab and Muslim-majority countries, many of which were displaced during the 20th century. As both a research hub and publishing house, it disseminates critical scholarship that informs academic discourse, cultural preservation, and public understanding of Middle Eastern Jewish experiences. Its nonprofit structure and long-standing ties to Israeli academia underscore its role as a trusted authority in this specialized field.

## Notable For
- **Founding by a Head of State**: Established by Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, Israel’s second president, linking it to the country’s early intellectual and political leadership.
- **Longevity**: Operational since 1947, making it one of Israel’s oldest research institutes focused on Middle Eastern Jewish studies.
- **Dual Function**: Serves as both a research institute and a publishing house, amplifying its impact through academic publications.
- **Geographic Focus**: Unique specialization in Jewish communities of the Middle East, a niche critical to understanding regional history and diaspora dynamics.

## Body
### Founding and History
- **Establishment**: Founded on November 26, 1947, in Jerusalem, shortly before Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948.
- **Founder**: Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (1884–1963), a historian and Zionist leader who served as Israel’s president from 1952 until his death.
- **Context**: Emerged amid efforts to consolidate Jewish cultural and historical research in the newly forming state.

### Mission and Activities
- **Research Focus**: Investigates the history, traditions, and experiences of Jewish communities in Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and others.
- **Publishing**: Operates as a publishing house, releasing scholarly works, archival materials, and studies on Middle Eastern Jewish heritage.
- **Nonprofit Status**: Registered as a nonprofit organization (Guidestar Israel ID: 590000709), reflecting its educational and cultural mission.

### Organizational Structure
- **Location**: Headquartered in Jerusalem at אבן גבירול 14, with coordinates 31.77564570536707° N, 35.21478709039538° E.
- **Identifiers**: Holds international authority files (VIAF ID 143063688, Library of Congress ID n80056949) and is cataloged in the National Library of Israel (J9U ID: 987007265234205171).

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File