National Library reverts to former logo, after new one sparks uproar

While the new National Library is reopening its new, NIS 860 million ($225 million) building this month, its latest, matching logo was summarily canceled in favor of the former symbol.

The new logo, blue-and-white like its predecessor, but with all three languages, Hebrew, Arabic and English, in equal size and without an obvious reference to the Israel flag, was heavily criticized on social media where it was first unveiled on September 28.

Comments were swift and fierce, as people demanded more national symbolism in the library’s logo.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch sent a letter to the board of directors imploring a return to the old logo, arguing that the new symbol “is severed from any connection and identity with the Jewish people, the State of Israel, Zionism and the Hebrew language.”

Two days ago, the National Library updated its profile picture on Facebook at 5:30 a.m., reverting to the old logo.

Rotem Cohen-Soaye, the designer of the new National Library logo, recalled in an interview with Kan that the design process took more than a year and a half, with hundreds of sketches and a multitude of directions.

The National Library of Israel’s redesigned logo by designer Rotem Cohen-Soaye that was unveiled on September 28, 2023. (Courtesy: National Library of Israel Facebook page)

Cohen-Soaye said that pressures were applied on him “from all directions,” including months of dialogue and research carried out with different representatives of the library.

The graphic designer said he was accused of being an assimilated Zionist and in favor of a “state of all terrorists,” adding that the former logo had been around for about 15 years and was not always recognized as the National Library logo in market research.