Chaim Weizmann
Chemiker und israelischer Politiker, 1874-1952
Chaim Weizmann war Chemiker, Präsident der Zionistischen Weltorganisation, israelischer Politiker und zionistischer Führer sowie zwischen 1949 und 1952 erster israelischer Staatspräsident. Die Synthese aus dem Politischen Zionismus, der den Staatsgedanken präferierte, und dem Praktischen Zionismus, der die Palästinabesiedelung bevorzugte, einte erstmals die Bewegung und wurde einer der größten Erfolge Weizmanns. Gegen den massiven Widerstand der arabischen Bevölkerung Palästinas und der Nachbarstaaten wurde am 14. Mai 1948 die israelische Unabhängigkeitserklärung proklamiert.
Quelle: Wikipedia
Jewish scholar and statesman; President of the Zionist World Organization and the Jewish Agency, first President of Israel (1949); (1874–1952). Typed letter signed. London. 4to. 1 1/4 pp. Printed letterhead „THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR PALESTINE“.
5.500 €
(97476)
An important confidential wartime letter from Chaim Weizmann (first President of Israel and key Zionist leader) and Selig Brodetsky (President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews), addressed to Walter Ettinghausen. This letter details the Jewish Agency for Palestine's efforts to mobilize Zionist and Jewish support in Britain during World War II. The letter discusses the establishment of a special department to advocate for Jewish immigration and colonization in Palestine, as well as plans for a crucial conference in London featuring Dr.
Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion. A highly significant document, shedding light on the Zionist leadership's strategies during one of the most pivotal moments in Jewish history. Signed by Chaim Weizmann and Selig Brodetsky, this letter is a valuable piece for collectors of Zionist history and World War II-era Jewish political movements. „The Executive have been discussing with leading members of the different Zionist bodies in London, as well as with the British Section of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, the present political situation and the steps which ought to be taken to mobilise all Zionist and Jewish forces in this country, under the direction of the Jewish Agency, for the advancement of our aims in Palestine. The Executive are convinced that every Jew in this country can greatly contribute, at this critical moment, to safeguarding the future of our people and our homeland, and can and must take an active part in our political work; in enlightening British public opinion on the general Jewish situation, and on our efforts and achievements in Palestine which provide the only lasting solution of the Jewish problem. The Executive have, therefore, decided to establish a special Department, the task of which will be to bring before British public opinion, as well as before the Jews of this country, the urgency of the Jewish problem and the important part which Palestine can play in its solution through large-scale immigration and colonisation under suitable political conditions. Such a Department can only perform its functions adequately if it has behind it the full weight of Zionist and Jewish support. The Executive have accordingly decided to convene a special Conference of selected laymen from London and the provinces, at which Dr. Weizmann and Mr. Ben-Gurion will report on the present political situation, the position in Palestine, and the problems facing us during and after the war; and where Dr. Brodetsky will outline a plan for our work in this country. A general discussion will follow. The Conference will be held at the Anglo-Palestinian Club (43/44 Great Windmill Street, Piccadilly, London, W.1.) on Sunday, November 9th, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Brodetsky. The morning session will open at 11 a.m. with statements from Dr. Weizmann and Mr. Ben-Gurion; lunch will be provided (1.30 to 2.30 p.m.) in the Club’s restaurant; and Dr. Brodetsky’s statement will follow in the afternoon. The Conference will close at 5.30 p.m. We should like to extend to you an urgent invitation to attend this meeting; we sincerely hope that you will be able to be present, and to take part in the important work which the new Department will have to undertake. Would you kindly let us know as early as possible whether we may expect you at the Conference.“.
verkauft
Archive of eight items consisting of seven letters in English and Hebrew (including one ALS), and one typed proclamation, five signed and one hand-notated, dating from 1914 to 1951, totaling 18 pages on 19 sheets.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
Jewish chemist and statesman (1874–1952) who helped secure the Balfour Declaration of 1917, served as President of the World Zionist Organization, and became the first President of Israel. Archive of eight items consisting of seven letters in English and Hebrew (including one ALS) and one typed proclamation, ranging in date from 1914 to 1951 and totaling 20 pages on 19 sheets. Five are signed and one is hand-notated. The letters are written to notable figures Field Marshall Jan Christian Smuts, Moshe Sharett, Walter Ettinghausen, and Israel Zangwill, and are incredibly rich in content, including thoughts of Europe after World War I, the settlement of Jews in Palestine, and secret questions about the congress of Zionists and about the “advancement of our aims in Palestine.” Two letters to Zangwill are unsigned: one is a retained carbon copy and one is a two-page TLS bearing a stamped signature. The six-page letter to Smuts is also unsigned, but is heavily notated in Weizmann's hand. A selection of the letters follows: Two TLSs to Zangwill with outstanding Zionist content, signed "Ch. Weizmann," each two pages, dated 1914. First, in part: "So far nothing has happened in Russia to ameliorate in the least degree the situation of the Jews, but on the contrary, the laws against us are handled with the greatest possible severity and no relaxation whatsoever…The moral and material distress is beyond description…I am inclined to think with you that at the present historical moment, through which the civilized world is passing, we may hope that the powers, which are going to alter the map of Europe, will find time to consider the fate of 13 millions of Jews, who, no doubt represent a small nation, which has given to the world as much as any other nation." Second, in part: "The Palestinian problem…is worthy of consideration, and I would like to emphasize the point, that a settlement of a comparatively small number of Jews—I spoke then of a million—which may be established in Palestine in the course of the next 30 or 40 years." Short ALS, written and signed in Hebrew, one page, January 30, 1918, to Sharett, in part: “The times are rough my friend, Moshe, but good times are few and valuable. It seems as if blowing a great horn loud and clear is needed, and only then, maybe, the walls of Jericho will collapse.” TLS signed by Weizmann and Selig Brodetsky, one page both sides, October 23, 1941, in part: "Our efforts and achievements in Palestine…provide the only lasting solution of the Jewish problem…bring before the British public opinion, as well as before the Jews of this country, the urgency of the Jewish problem and the important part which Palestine can play in its solution through large-scale immigration and colonisation under suitable political conditions." Heavily-notated typed letter to Smuts, six pages, February 2, 1943, in part: “There is another aspect to the problem which is worth noting: Unconsciously, perhaps, the American public, and even certain quarters in Washington, have been affected by the anti-Semitic virus. The deadly poison of Hitlerism has spread far and wide. The propaganda that this is a ‘Jewish War’ is met not by counter-propaganda, but by a conspiracy of silence regarding the Jewish problem. Whereas the Nazi leaders remember us in every one of their blatant utterances, conversely, the leaders of the democracies, with rare exceptions, try to forget our existence. Often I am overcome by the terrible feeling that so far as the Jews are concerned, the Hitlerites have won the war.” Typed proclamation, signed in Hebrew as president, dated August 20, 1951, issued for “a special session of the 23rd Zionist Congress for the Jews National Fund (the KKL) Jubilee," reads, in part (translated): “The KKL is a unique institution in our revival movement of the people and country. A tool of redemption for both the land and the man, an impetus to return land for a nation which is in lack of land and to return to the land the man who works it and revives it with labour, an institution that returned to our young, the Pioneers of Zion and sons, the feeling of whole Hebrew people, with upright bearing and self confident, for their legs are standing on their land. And here the KKL’s special value as an institution which performed greatly, peacefully and with the strength of a great idea, to the fulfillment of the Israeli land reform.” Retained carbon copy is of a neatly-penned two-page ALS, in English, dated October 19, 1914, to Zangwill, in part: “My plans are based naturally on one cardinal assumption…that the allies will win…I am afraid I don’t share your optimism that a change for the better in Russia may take place after the war. At present there is not a single fact which would indicate the advent of such a change, there is no indication of any relaxation of the laws, which grind up the Jews in Russia. I don’t see why the autocracy coming out victorious from the present ordeal, should make any considerable concession to Jews, who are considered as the ‘enemy’ the ‘foe’ and the ‘danger for Russia.’ Only a revolution could bring about a change.” In overall very good to fine condition. Spanning Weizmann's involvement in the Zionist movement in near entirety, this incredible archive is both autographically rare and historically important. Contained within are the three earliest Weizmann letters we have ever offered, and letters with direct Zionist content are a highly sought after scarcity and the most desirable of any Weizmann autographic material. In the first letter, written just months after the beginning of World War I, Weizmann references the Russian occupation of Eastern Galicia, an Austrian province with a 13% Jewish population—suspecting that they were loyal to Austria, harsh laws were imposed against the Jewish community, ranging from censorship to imprisonment to deportation. The subsequent letters outline Weizmann's innermost thoughts on establishing a Jewish state and his efforts to do so—a lifelong effort which came to fruition in 1948. A truly amazing archive of the utmost historical importance.
Autograph letter signed.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
Jewish chemist and statesman (1874–1952) who helped secure the Balfour Declaration of 1917, served as President of the World Zionist Organization, and became the first President of Israel. To Moshe Sharett, in part: “The times are rough my friend, Moshe, but good times are few and valuable. It seems as if blowing a great horn loud and clear is needed, and only then, maybe, the walls of Jericho will collapse.”
Autograph letter signed.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
To Moshe Sharrett in Hebrew: “I thank you with all my heart for your beautiful booklet. I will read it with peace and interest. Prior to my journey, I hope I still have a chance to speak with you. The times are rough my friend, Moshe, but good times are few and valuable. It seems as if blowing a great horn loud and clear is needed, and only then, maybe, the walls of Jericho will collapse. […]”
Typed letter signed.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
An extraordinary typed letter signed by Chaim Weizmann, the future first President of Israel, to Israel Zangwill, a prominent British Jewish writer and political thinker. Dated October 4, 1914, at the beginning of World War I, Weizmann reaches out to Zangwill, despite their known political differences, to discuss the plight of Jews in Russia and Palestine and to seek unity in advocating for Jewish national aspirations. Weizmann describes the worsening conditions for Jews in Russia, the dangers facing Jewish settlements in Palestine, and expresses hope that the post-war geopolitical changes will lead to recognition of Jewish nationhood. He urges Zangwill, despite their previous disagreements, to take a leading role in uniting the Jewish cause. „I regret deeply that it was impossible for me to go over to East Preston from London, as I was suddenly called away to Manchester. The Russian gentleman whom you sent on to Cowen, and who was sent on to me, gave me a considerable amount of work and anxiety, and I had to make the journey to London on Tuesday instead of Friday, as I intended, but, of course, I shall be pleased to come up and see you as soon as necessary. Cowen and Greenberg, no doubt, have mentioned to you the object of our meeting. Whatever differences of opinion have separated you from the general Zionist body, differences, which, I am afraid, are still in existence, I am nevertheless convinced that at the present critical moment, we must try and find the possibility for working together and save what can be saved from this debacle which befalls our people. I suppose you are aware that so far nothing has happened in Russia to ameliorate in the least degree the situation of the Jews, but on the contrary, the laws against us are handled with the greatest possible severity. Relaxation whatsoever, even for the families of combatants, is disallowed. The moral and material distress is beyond description. Our Palestinian possessions, which have been built up with so much hard work and so many sorrows, are in great danger. There are sufficient reasons, I think, for all of us to try and do our utmost at the present moment, to save what can be saved from this conflagration. On the other hand, I am inclined to think with you that the present historical moment, through which the civilized world is passing, may hope that the powers, which are going to alter the map of Europe, will find time to consider the fate of 13 million Jews, who, no doubt, represent a small nation, which has given to the world as much as any other nation, and which, in the present struggle, is taking a very prominent part. But much will depend upon the possibility of uniting all responsible Jews, whether they should be able to raise their voice and put the claim in a dignified way. Needless to say, that we look to you as the one who would be able to take the lead in this matter, and I think that we shall be only too delighted to help you with all means in our power. This is why I wanted to see you and to discuss with you the particular steps which may be taken in this course. You know, Mr. Zangwill, that I have been one of your most convinced adversaries, and I never hesitated to tell you so when the opportunity arose. In the same time I would like you to know that this was a political affair and certainly there was no personal feeling of any sort in the controversy. This is what emboldened me to come to you now in a time of stress like this and ask you to accept our cooperation for the good of Jewry.“ This is an exceptional piece of Jewish history, illustrating the urgent political discussions that helped lay the groundwork for the Balfour Declaration (1917) and the eventual establishment of the State of Israel. A rare and highly significant letter from one of the most influential figures in Zionist history.