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CHAIM WEIZMANN, First President of Israel, Typed Letter Signed

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:2,800.00 - 3,400.00 USD
CHAIM WEIZMANN, First President of Israel, Typed Letter Signed
Autographs
1903 Zionist Leader Chaim Weizmann Typed Letter Signed
CHAIM WEIZMANN (1874-1952). Zionist leader during WWI and First President of Israel (1948-52). He helped secure the Balfour Declaration (1917), which promised a Jewish state in Palestine. Head of the World Zionist Organization (1920-29) and the Jewish Agency (1929-31; 1935-46).
July 10, 1903-Dated Typed Letter Signed, “Ch. Weizmann,” 1 page, 8.5” x 11”, Quarto, from Geneva, Switzerland, Choice Very Fine. 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. Written in German to "Friend Mossinson" - presumably, the well-known Zionist Ben Zion Mossinson, who later became principal of the Hebrew College in Tel Aviv. Here, Weizmann writes, in full:

"Dear Friend Mossinson! I thank you for the timely and proficient handling of our matters. 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. We hope not to encounter any difficulties, however the realization of the Technical Department in Palestine seems to be connected with great difficulty for the time being. 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 Go/us (religious term used to describe the predicament of a Jew who is without his roots, and estranged from his spiritual base) to create the school in a way that makes it moveable, the foundation can only be laid in Palestine. In any case we will investigate all of these questions in depth.'

Tomorrow evening I'll drive to Paris, next week I'll be in Bern. q you shouldn't have received the mimeograph by today, you might do better hectographing the circulars. Make sure, dear friend, that the letters are not too heavy. Put them in envelopes with different colors and don't send all of them in the same mailing. To the more important persons, send them certified. -- With many heartfelt greetings - your - (Signed) Ch. Weizmann"

From 1901-1903, Weizmann devoted nearly every spare minute to the project most dear to his heart, the establishment of a Jewish university in Palestine. Immersed in the culture of academia, Weizmann also perceived an immediate necessity for such an institution of Jewish scholarship, given the increasing discrimination 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 the spring of 1903 interest in the university project began to wane as news of renewed pogroms in Russia reached 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. In all, 49 Jews were killed, hundreds more injured, and the Jewish quarters of Kishinev ransacked. With understandable suddenness, aid to the victims of the pogroms assumed greater importance. Over the summer of 1903, Weizmann re-directed funds set aside for the publication of Der Jude and turned his focus to speeches, relief work, and demonstrations against the pogroms. [It is unknown, though unlikely that the circular mentioned in the present letter was ever published.] Though the university campaign was shelved for the 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, with such fantastic content regarding Palestine is especially desirable. Two original binder holes along left edge, and small original ink splatter below signature. Overall, in fine condition.