THE DETROIT JEW ISH NE WS — Friday, July 17, 1959 - 12
The Third President of the World Zionist Organization
100th Anniversary of Otto Warburg's Birth
no lust for power nor was he a
dramatic fighter, but as leader
of the Zionist Organization he
was the right person to intro-
duce the new era of practical
Zionism. He was peace-loving,
wanted harmony within the
Zionist Organization and was a
conciliatory influence.
The Eleventh Congress, too,
held-in Vienna (1913), the last
before the outbreak of the war,
confirmed his leadership. He
was bristling with new plans
and new enterprises to con-
solidate Jewish Palestine. Dr.
Arthur Ruppin, the expert on
Zionist colonization, who had
been won over by Wolffsohn to
direct the Palestine Office,
could now, with Warburg's
help, realize many projects.
Warburg encouraged the im-
migration of Yemenites to Pal-
estine and concerned himself
with the construction of homes
for Jewish workers and bet-
ter hygiene. He fought for the
introduction of Hebrew at the
Technical Institute in Haifa and
worked for the establishment
of the Hebrew University.
In Germany Zionism was
considered an "English" con-
cern and in England a "Ger-
man" one. When the Times of
Sept. 20. 1912, described
Zionism as having "a pre-
dominantly German - Jewish
character" which would
strengthen German influence
in Palestine. Warburg wrote a
letter to The Times asserting
that actually more English
than German was spoken in
Palestine. Warburg came to
London in 1913 to address the
conference of the Zionist
Federation. He also realized
at last that it would be nec-
essary to have the help of
England, and that yen/ soon
it would become advisable to
transfer thi political depart.
ment of the Z.O. from Berlin
to London.
When war broke out he re-
mained in Berlin. He contin-
ued with his task and inter-
vened with the German Gov-
ernment on many occasions to
save Jewish colonies from com-
plete destruction.
Prof. Otto Warburg stayed
on as President of the Zionist
Organization until the first large
post-war Zionist Conference in
London of July 1920, when
Chaim Weizmann was elected
President. At the Twelfth Zion-
ist Congress in Carlsbad (1921),
the first to be held after the
Balfour Declaration, he re-
ported on the. activities of the
J.N.F. He spoke, as usual, like
the scientist he was. quietly
and objectively, quoting figures
and putting forward new pro-
posals. But he was no Party-
man and was not re-elected to
the Executive. He remained the
practical Zionist, loved the
beauty of Palestine, visiting his
country every year, lectured on
botanics at the Hebrew Uni-
versity and supervised the work
of the "Agricultural Research
Station" in Tel Aviv (later in
Rehovoth).
He witnessed the groWth of
anti-Semitism in Germany and
Hitler's accession to power. He
died on Jan. 10, 1938, and his
ashes were taken to Palestine.
The "Warburg Period" in Zion-
ist history was not distinguished
by political activities but was
practical
certainly rich
in
achievements.
By JOSEF FRAENKEL !Franz Oppenheimer, to Vienna burg was nominated as candi-
Special London Correspondent and already at that time dis- date to the presidency. War-
I cussed the establishment and li-urg was really not interested,
of The Jewish News
program of a "Palestine Corn- and it was almost against his
Prof. Otto Warburg was a
will that he was persuaded and
" with them.
botanist. He and a few other mission
Otto Warburg appeared for cajoled into accepting this high
Jews, like Ferdinand Julius
office.
Cohn, Paul Ascherson and Na- the first time as a delegate at
Already at the Ninth Zion-
thaniel Pringsheim, became the Sixth Zionist Congress in
ist Congress in 1909, Weiz-
"Professors of Botany" at uni- 1903. This Congress dealt with
versities in Germany and en- the motion to appoint a Com- mann presented a list of
joyed an international reputa- mission to study the possibili- names for a new Zionist Exec-
- utive, at the top of which was
tion. But Otto Warburg also ties of Jewish Colonization in
Warburg, but Wolffsohn was
belongs to the history of Zion- the East African territory
omitted. The delegates re-
ism. His love of plants led him (Uganda) offered by the Brit-
volted against this proposal.
ish Government. Warburg, who
to Jewish colonization.
Warburg, too, would not ac-
was one of the "Yes-Sayers,"
Theodor Herzl immortal-
cept election "under such
became chairman of this corn-
ized hint in his Zionist novel
mission consisting of nine mem- conditions." Finally the old
"Altneuland," published in
Executive (Wolffsohn, War-
bers, among them Joseph Cow-
1902. There, Warburg is de- en, Leopold Greenberg, Leo-
burg and Kahn) was re-
picted as "Hamburger" who is
elected. But Wolffsohn was
pold Kessler and Chaim Weiz-
charged with the task of ob-
tired and ill and did not want
mann.
taining eucalyptus trees and
stand again as President
The
same
Congress
also
to
seedlings of Mediterranean
at
. the Tenth Zionist Congress
elected
a
"Palestine
Commis-
them
flora and transplanting ;
in 1911 although he, who
sion" to examine the economic
"for the benefit and ornamen-
"not only preserved the heri-
technical, legal and geographi-
tation" of Palestine. Warburg
Cage of Herzl but also en-
cal problems of the country.
did achieve it but Herzl nev-
riched it," could have again
This commission consisted of
er dreamed that this same
been president. So an Execu-
three experts: the botanist War-
or Warburg
"Hamburger"
tive was elected without
burg, the economist Oppen-
would, nine years later, be-
Wolffsohn.
Warburg, who
heimer and the agriculturist Dr.
come the president of the
continued to direct the Pales-
Selig Soskin: it had its head-
World Zionist Organization.
,b e c a m e
Otto Warburg, born on July quarters in Berlin and an an- tine Department
of the Executive.
20, 1859, in Hamburg, belonged nual budget of 15,000 francs. Chairman
The headquarters of the Zion-
to an old-established and dis- In this manner the preparatory
ist Organization moved from
tinguished family; he received practical work was begun and
Cologne to Berlin (Saech-
a good German upbringing, soon the foundations of Zionist
sische Strasse).
colonization
were
laid.
Plans
studied at Bonn and, as was the
Warburg was to be the bridge
custom at that time, at other were prepared, a scientific per;-
and
universities too: Berlin, Munich. (xlical "Altneuland" (1 a t e r , between the Executive
Strassbourg a n d Tuebingen. "Palaestina") was published and Herzl's old opponents who for
so long had striven to obtain
Two years after receiving his institutions established.
Otto Warburg gradually control of the movement but
doctorate, he traveled in Asia
still could not agree on the al
gained prestige in the move-
and spent a few years on re-
location of roles. Warburg had
ment. At the Seventh Zionist
search work to perfect his
Congress in 1905, the first to
knowledge of tropical plants.
At the age of 32 he was ap- take place without Herzl. he
pointed lecturer at the Univer- reported on the activit es of
the commission (U gand a)
sity of Berlin and in 1897 be-
and, as is known, the Con-
came Professor of Botanics.
He was a scientist eager to gress declined the British of-
discover the mysteries of na- fer. Warburg underlined that
Palestine was the only coun-
ture. He helped to establish the
try suitable far Jewish colo-
"Zeitschrift f u e r tropische
nization and declared that
Landwirtschaft" and published
practical work would facili-
several studies, among them
"Die Kulturpflanze der Welt- tate the granting of the "Char-
wirtschaft" (1907) and three ter." He supported private
volumes of "Die Pflanzenwelt" initiative in establishing many
( 1913-1922). He was completely institutions, helped to found
absorbed in agricultural prob- the "Bezalel" School of Arts
and Crafts, propagated at that
lems and in German coloniza-
tion, scarcely aware of the Jew- time by Prof. Boris Schatz,
ish question which was quite introduced the planting of
olive trees and suggested the
alien to him.
idea of the Herzl-Forest. War-
Gustav G. Cohen of Ham-
burg was one of the founders
burg, who. after reading
of the "Agricultural Research
George Eliot's "Daniel Dercm-
Station," the "Palestine Land
da", became a Zionist, drew
Development Company," the
Warburg's attention to the
"Palestine Industrial Syndi-
Hovevei Zion society "Ezra"
cate" and many other insti-
in Berlin. Cohen, whose
tutions for promoting coloni-
daughter Anna became War-
zation in Palestine. He can
burg's wife and later one of
aptly be described as "a
the co-founders of the "Union
founder." He was always oc-
of Jewish Women . for Cul-
cupied with plans but also
tural Work in Palestine" in
had the ability to realize
1907, was a friend of Herzl
them.
and a delegate to the First
The Seventh Zionist Congress
Zionist Congress in Berlin in
elected David Wolffsohn as
1897.
Very soon Warburg, who had president of the Zionist Organi-
originally shown an interest, zation and Warburg as member
on humanitarian grounds, in of the Zionist Executive. Wolff-
colonization for Rumanian Jews, sohn, who carried on with the
became a shekelholder. The political work of Herz', greatly
membership of a professor was appreciated Warburg's qualities
a great boost for the Zionist and regarded him as "honestly
movement in Germany. Al- himself." But there were dif-
though Hermann Schapira, who ferences between the two, as
was a veteran Zionist and pro- the botanist withdrew more and
fessor at Heidelberg University, more from political Zionism
had died only a year before, which he described as "a phan-
in 1898, he had merely been an tom."
In the meantime the opposi-
"Ostjude," whereas Warburg
was by contrast a real West- tion against Wolffsohn did not
decrease. Chaim Weizmann, at
European.
MN INS IM En MI
=EOM MI =MOO Ma I•11
■ 0 OM nal ON
or
At the beginning. Warburg that time an admirer of Ger-
Zionism,
used
to
criticize
The Jewish News
addressed meetings of the "Un- man
I
17100 West Seven Mile Road
ion of Jewish Students" in Ber- Wolffsohn bitterly, calling him
the
"soicher"
(tradesman).
He
I
lin and encouraged its members
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to support the new movement. and the old opponents of Herzl
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Herzl met him in Berlin and as- did not believe in the success
of
political
Zionism.
They
could
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sured him that he would always
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I
ADDRESS
practical work for Palestine. could be won at a conference
Herzl hoped to begin mass colo- table. The opposition grew in
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"Charter," and intended to en- ually returning to the old Ho-
trust Warburg with many im- vevei Zion ideolgy. In the course
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portant missions. Later he in- of this fierce struggle, directed
IMAM --- MO ME MI MI MI ill SIM SU ME On Ma In Inn MO 'ay
vited him, together with Dr. mainly against Wolffsohn, War-
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