Hava (Ewa) Szyper immigrated to Israel in 1949 together with her mother. Several years later her husband – Fajel Birnbaum joined her.

Back then Szyper brought a number of books in Polish with her to Israel. In those days she saw a great demand among the population of immigrants from Poland for books in Polish and asked her father, who was still in Poland, to send her more books. That’s how the Ewa Szyper Bookstore and Library was established in Tel Aviv.

The place was located on the basement floor of Allenby Street, on the corner of Pinsker, opposite the Mughrabi Cinema, and was a regular meeting point for Polish immigrants in Israel.

In addition Fajwel Birnbaum owned an agency called Spedron that dealt with cultural relations with Poland. Throughout the years  he maintained strong cultural ties with Poland and even represented the State of Israel at the International Book fair held in Poland.

The library began to decline after a tragic car accident that happened in 1971, in which Eva was killed and Pavel was injured and was left alone to take care of his two young daughters. The store closed several years later.

Second from the right: Fajwel Birnbaum at the bookstore in Tel Aviv

 From the right: Fajwel Birnbaum and Ewa Szyper

 From the right: Fajwel Birnbaum 

Fajwel Birnbaum at the Book Fair Spedron in Warsaw