Chaim Weizmann

Zionist leader and Israeli statesman, 1874-1952

Chaim Azriel Weizmann was a Zionist leader and Israeli statesman who served as president of the Zionist Organization and later as the first president of Israel. He was elected on 16 February 1949, and served until his death in 1952. It was Weizmann who convinced the United States government to recognize the newly formed state of Israel. Weizmann was also a noted biochemist, considered to be the 'father' of industrial Fermentation. His acetone production method was of great importance in the manufacture of cordite explosive propellants for the British war industry during World War I.

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Weizmann, Chaim

erster israelischer Staatspräsident (1874-1952). Typed letter signed Briefkopf ChWeizmann with addional note. Genf. 1 S. 4to.
$ 2,880 / 2.750 € (80463)

The Exceptional typed letter signed ist written to “Friend Mossinson” – presumably, the well- known Zionist Ben Zion Mossinson, who later became principal of the Hebrew College in Tel Aviv. Weizmann writes in part: „[...] The circular [most certainly Der Jude, the principal mouthpiece for the Jewish university cause] has my complete approval, but I would like to insert the following sentences for the sake of clarity. “We envision the realization of the project as follows: The Jewish Department, connected with the common-knowledge one, we seek to realize only in Palestine [...] the realization of the Technical Department in Palestine seems to be connected with great dif culty [...] Should the absolute impossibility arise to found such department in Palestine, we then will seek its tentative formation abroad.While we’re always lead by the principle, in Golus to create the school in a way that makes it moveable, the foundation can only be laid in Palestine [...]“ Despite news of the recent pogrom in Russia, young Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann struggles to release a circular advocating the establishment of a Jewish university in Palestine.

He devoted nearly every spare minute to the project, which was most dear to his heart. Immersed in the culture of academia, Weizmann also preceived an immediate necessity for such an institution of Jewish scholarship, given the increasing discriminiation against Jewish students in Russia and elsewhere. But perhaps most importantly, the university project gave some common ground to Weizmann and Theodor Herzl, who for a number of years had been at odds over the general direction of the Zionist movement. Tragically by 1903 interest in the university project began to wane as news of renewed progroms in Russia reache the alarmed ears of Weizmann and his associates in Geneva. Carried out a Kishinev, it was followed by an unusually vitriolic, anti-Semitic press campaign along with a stiffening of anti-Jewish policies on the part of the Tsarist authorities. Though the university campaign was shelved for nearly ten years, the idea had been sparked. The fruits of Weizmann’s labor would later be born in the establishment of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and the Weizmann Institute for Science in Rehovot. Early letters from Weizmann are scarce; this one especially, with the content regarding Palestine..

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Weizmann, Chaim

erster israelischer Staatspräsident (1874–1952). TLS. New York. 1 S. 4to.
$ 2,304 / 2.200 € (8294)

To David Ben Gurion: „You were informed of the meeting which was called of the members of the Executive of the World Zionist Organisation resident or sojourning in the United States, scheduled to be held at the St. Regis Hotel on July 24, 1942, Room 703 at 3:30 P. M. The meeting was held as scheduled and we regret that it was not possible for you to attend [...]“. – Also signed by Louis Lipatz [?]; („Another meeting will be called shortly after Dr. Weizmann’s return from Washington [...]“). – On letterhead of the Hotel St. Regis, New York.

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Weizmann, Chaim

erster israelischer Staatspräsident (1874-1952). Typed letter signed „Ch. Weizmann“. Manchester. 4to. 1 p.
$ 3,142 / 3.000 € (94749)

To Romanian Rabbi Moses Gaster (1856-1939): „You have probably seen Mr. Bentwich and also the gentlemen from the C.A.C., and, no doubt, you have decided to take a certain line of action. I would be grateful if you would kindly let me know what is going to be done in the near future. We shall be able, of course, with a little more propaganda, to bring a fairly strong Maccabean Delegation to Congress. - Manchester, I understand, is going to send 6 Delegates. I would like to ask you whether it would not be possible for you to come to Manchester for the next Shekel Day, in a fortnight? Mr.

Harris has, probably, written to you about it. I understand from Dr. Friedemann that the E.Z.F. people intend to open a strong campaign and try to mend matters still before Congress. I think we could do a fair amount of work in the provinces, and increase our delegation if we send round a good agitator. Mr. Cohen from Cambridge is, I think, a suitable person, and as the term has finished, he would be prepared to go round. I suggested to Mr. Bentwich to ask Dr. Hantke for a special propaganda grant; I have not heard yet whether he succeeded to obtain something […]“ - After lecturing on chemistry at the University of Geneva, Weizmann immigrated to England where he accepted a position at Manchester University. While there, he formed a group of Zionists that came to be known as the Manchester School, whose main purpose was to disseminate information about Zionism through the publication of pamphlets, books and newspaper articles - possibly the ,propaganda’ referred to in our letter. In 1913 Vienna hosted the Eleventh Zionist Congress which Weizmann attended with delegates from the Manchester School, helping to win support for the creation of Jerusalem’s Hebrew University. After Gaster’s pro-Jewish views forced his exile from Romania, he lectured at Oxford and served as a rabbi to England’s Sephardic population. An ardent supporter of Herzl, Gaster was a founder and president of the English Zionist Federation (EZF) as well as vice-president of the Zionist congresses in Basel and London from 1898-1900. His importance in Zionist movement is further underscored by the fact that he hosted discussions between Zionist representatives and the English Foreign Office prior to the momentous 1917 Balfour declaration. Norman Bentwich (1883-?) was a member of the Manchester School, becoming attorney general of Palestine and, in 1932, a professor of International Peace at Hebrew University. our letter also mentions German Zionists Adolf Friedemann (1871-1933) and economist Arthur Hantke (1874-1955), President of the ZVFD, the German Zionist Union. After decades of devoted service to the Zionist movement, Weizmann became Israel’s first president on February 16, 1949, a position he held until his death three years later. Folded with several holograph emendations..

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Weizmann, Chaim

erster israelischer Staatspräsident (1874-1952). A.L.S., “Ch. Weizmann“. London. 4to. 1 1/2 pp. Auf Hotel-Briefpapier „The Dorchester Hotel, London“. Mit eigenh. Briefumschlag. Eng beschrieben.
$ 12,568 / 12.000 € (94750)

Letter very rich in content to the physicist Max Born in Edinburgh about the English resistance against the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. Weizmann asks Born to use his connection with the influential, ethnic German physicist Frederick Alexander Lindemann, Viscount Cherwell for the purpose of the Jewish matter: “... We have just returned from an extensive tour in the U.S.A., where I was trying to do something for my own people and the general cause of the war. Your opinion about the necessity of Palestine for the Jews is in accordance with mine and with that of millions of Jews all over the world.

A strong Jewish State ... is obviously of advantage to the British and we have been preaching this doctrine for almost a generation to them. However, I am driven to the melancholy conclusion that a large number of Englishmen, particularly those of the Conservative Party, are afraid of it; they distrust the Jews and have no confidence. This does not apply to Mr. Churchill … but there are powerful reactionary elements operating against it ...“ Important letters of Weizmann like this are very rare and desirable..

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Weizmann, Chaim

erster israelischer Staatspräsident (1874-1952). Ms. Brief mit eigenh. Unterschrift. Manchester. 4to. 1 p. Gedr. Briefkopf.
$ 2,618 / 2.500 € (94765)

An Dr. Gaster: „I had to go away on Monday afternoon and also to attend the Maccabaean Conference; I therefore could not call on you, and I hasten to let you know the result of my interview with Sacher and Simon. - I think these gentlemen will be willing to work under any circumstances and will not stand in the way of Oranising the Zionist moevement here on a new basis. Simon sent me a list of the Executive, which, he thinks might meet with the approval of all parties concerned. I think he gives in each case 12 names instead of 10, but, of course, 2 names can be easily omitted.

Instead of Eisen, Horn could be taken. Of course you will see Sassoon, and if he consents to act as Treasurer, we could leave H.R. Lewis out. […]“.

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Weizmann, Chaim

erster israelischer Staatspräsident (1874-1952). Photograph signed in Hebrew on mat below. O. O. u. D. 174:232 mm auf etwas größerem Trägerkarton.
$ 2,095 / 2.000 € (33540/BN28770)

Additionally signed by his wife Vera and inscribed to Yigat Kimchi, showing Chaim and Vera Weizmann at a degree ceremony. - Mat slightly spotted and creased.

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Weizmann, Chaim

Eigenh. Postkarte mit U. („Dr. ChWeizmann“).
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Letter in French language to Mademoiselle Van Gelder in London: “… Imaginez vous que j’ai attende jusqu’ aujourd’hui l’arrivée du paquet et il n’est pas la ! J’espère que l’adresse etait bien écrite.Je vous enverras ces jours des jolies cartes. Avec beaucoup de salutations pour vous, les votres et le Dr. Rappoport, à qui j’ecris une très grande lettre …“


Weizmann, Chaim

Brief m. e. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

Chaim Weizmann (1874–1952), erster israelischer Staatspräsident. Ms. Brief mit e. U. New York, 17. Juni 1942. ½ Seite 8°. – An David Ben Gurion: „I received your note yesterday. In writing you before I had in mind not only your action here, but also in London. Today I am leaving for a trip in the Middle West and I do not think that any useful purpose will be served by continuing the correspondence further [...]“. – Auf Briefpapier mit gedr. Briefkopf des Hotel St. Regis, New York.