Chaim Weizmann Viewed Uncritically

By JOSEF FRAENKEL

Jewish News Special
London Correspondent

Joseph Chamberlain, the colonial
secretary, offered Herzl El Arish
in 1902. Egypt at first favored,
then opposed this project. not only

"Zionist Banner", appeared in achieved his historical leadership
Manchester. It was published by after adopting Herzl's policies. He
Symon Masse( and Joseph L. carried on where Herzl left off.
Cohen, but Harry Sacher and Leon He believed in Britain and his
Simon took over soon afterwards. hopes centered on Britain. Both
Weizmann belonged to the con- Jews and non-Jews fell under the
tributors of the "Zionist Banner" spell of his personality. His charm
which moved to London, was re- impressed Balfour and other
named "The Zionist" and con- statesmen.
tinned until the outbreak of the
There followed, for the Zionist
First World War.
leaders and for the Z.F. under
The "Manchester School" had no Weizmann, a period of ceaseless

Voice of Jerusalem

Our Hebrew

(Editor's Note: This week's col-
umn was translated from the He-
brew by Daniel Kaplan, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Percy Kaplan. Daniel, a
graduate of Hillel Day School who
wit be a high school senior next
term, is now visiting in Israel. He
also is a student of Arabic.)

because it would have involved a
London
diversion of the Nile waters, but
The history of modern Zionism also because she feared political
began with Theodor Herzl and complications with Turkey. It was
Is there a Jew in the world who
ended with Chaim Weizmann. Herzl only when this project had failed
does not know at least one word of
knew nothing of the precursors of that Chamberlain. in April 1903,
Hebrew? There isn't: truthfully there
isn't. Every language that a Jew speaks
Zionism. of Moses Hess and Leo proposed Uganda for Jewish Colo-
has acquired, here and there, a Hebrew
Pinsker. Ile had no teachers to nization. a) Uganda was no farm,
word. There are many Hebrew words
inspire him. lie himself became no village or small town-it was Zionist philosophy of its own and activity and finally the long-await- in Yiddish: Emet (truth), Vaddi (sure,
certainly). &filo (even, even if), Shalom
teacher and leader of a new gen- a territory which England sug- all of its followers came from ed charter, the Balfour Declara- (peace), Maileh (already then, never
eration. Weizmann, on the other gested to Herzl for Jewish settle- Manchester. They were interested tion of November 2, 1917, became mind. so be it), Vum (day), Lyela
liolech (goes), Shomeia (hears).
hand, well versed in the work of ment and by the Uganda offer in the ideological aspects of the a fact, with Balfour's letter to Lord (night),
Medaber (speaks). Shebbat, Yom Toy.
his Zionist predecessors: he was England recognized the Z.O. and various Zionist trends and became Rothschild, hon. president of the Tephilin, Mezuza, Ethrog, Lulav, Seder,
aquainted with the various tend- its president as representative of propagators of English Zionism. Z.F., which ended with the words: Torah, Succah, and hundreds of words
more from Jewish tradition and from
encies of his time and chose as the Jewish people.
the day to day life. And not only Yid-
They met in Manchester or in Lon- "I should be grateful if you would dish,
but even other languages, which
his teacher Ahad Ha-Am. But
Ilerzl
neither
accepted
nor
re-
don
and
spent
hours,
not
only
bring
this
declaration
to
the
knowl-
have acquired Hebrew words from the
Weizmann was not just a disciple.
Bible and from Jews who spoke it.
jected
the
proposal.
He
was
an-
listening
but
also
propounding
edge
of
the
Zionist
Federation".
The words Tohu VoVohti (empty and
He had his own Zionist "labora-
their views. The members of the
Had Herzl never written another void, or chaotic), Adam. Eve, Shibboleth
tory". He sought to create his own xious to continue the negotiations
Amen. Selah.
"Manchester School" brought Weiz- word after the publication of his On English) Satan,
synthesis of the different trends in • with England. When Herzl reported
(Psalms), liale luya.
of his isolation, rec - "Jewish State" and withdrawn Thilim
mann
out
on
East
Africa
to
the
Sixth
Zionist
heard not only from Jews. etc., etc..
Zionism. Although he was in-
ognized his genius and submitted from every other activity, he would
fluenced by the spiritual theories Congress (1903), and the letter ad-
Not always do you know, dear reader'
still have been immortalized by the that the word that you are using day
of Ahad Ha-Am, fate decreed that dressed by Sir Clement Hill of the to his leadership.
after day, that it is a Hebrew word.
Foreign
Office
to
Leopold
Green-
Herzl
had
faithful
followers
in
Jewish
people.
Had
Weizmann,
he was the realise the political
arlsri a .s e r l
immig re ar ii.n
a newtItleth,t ( w
berg had been read out, Weiz- England and he often praised the after the Balfour Declaration, re- sOanifie to
ideology of Herzl.
v
. (lesson).
to learn the word Shitir
Ilerzl always gazed towards Lon- mann wavered his attitude to Z.F. Weizmann, too, enjoyed the tired from the scene, his memory him
I ask ed him if
to remember . and
and
nd he a nswe red.
don and prophesied that with the the project. First he made a speech loyalty of the Z.F. without which would still have been enshrined he speaks
"yes.'• "In that case," I said. "If so,
understanding of England, Zionism in favor of Uganda, but later voted the success of his historical mis - in Jewish history.
you already know the word, but you
sion would hardly have been pos -
don't know that you know it. Have
would soar to even greater height. against it.
VI
you studied Gemorah (Talmud)? You
Weizmann settled in Manchester,
Weizmann could not know that in Bible. The Z.F. enabled Herzl, and
d id say a "Shiur" in Gemorah. You
President of Israel
( wr
binding the future of Zionism with December 1903 both, Herzl and later Weizmann, to make political
,, n ) 1 . * . I . d dil:. 0 h n eta ,
,,,Liure
really).
"Be
In July' 1920 Weizmann was
England. Thus was Zionism real- E n g 1 a n d. had been willing to contact with British statemen.
did not
by The (Bch replied with Joy, .•I
elected
president
of
the
Z.O.
ized.
abandon the project — England
)(Flow that I knew the word. "
V
the international Zionist Conference
Weizmann was at first critical because of the strong opposition
So it is, not only with the Ilebrew
in London, and Sokolow, chairman language,
of Herzl's diplomacy. He did not of British settlers in East Africa.
The First World War
but in other things as well,
Jews do not know to what extent
believe in a charter or a world., But Herzl felt that he could not
At the outbreak of the First of the Zionist Executive. Thus many
they are Jews. There is something in
power help Zionism. But he be- release England from her promise World War, England had a well- London became the seat of the the heart of the Jew that neither place
came a great leader only when u n 1 e s s "something else" was functioning Z.F., comprising 50 Zionist Central Office. Herzl had nor time can erase.
he, himself, adopted political Zion- offered by England. "Something societies, a Zionist Chief Rabbi, an opposition, Weizmann had an
ism to obtain a charter or declara- else" could have been some ter- ' a Zionist Haham, a Zionist Lord opposition — and we cannot tell
077V117 lip
tion — the Balfour Declaration.
Rothschild and a pro-Zionist Jew- what Zionist history might have
ritory not far from Palestine.
become without opposition. Official
Ilerzl was a Westernised Jew
meeting of the ish Chronicle.
13
hv ' 1 ?")
In
April
1904
a
between Zionism and opposition frequently
who gravitated towards the East.
Zionist Actions Committee (Z.A.C.) ,
The ideological struggle
complemented each other.
trim: &zip? ma: Tr: cam
Weizmann was an East-European
took place in Vienna and adopted ; the Zionist leaders was suspended
suspended.
Jew, who turned towards the West.
Like Herzl, Hordau, Wolffsohn
a "peace resolution" asking for , They rallied almost to a man to
.1!1< 111'1;1) rep 9K
In Weizmann, East and West unite
the implementation of the decision ; political Zionism and the Z. F. and Sokolov, Weizmann was no
and fuse: Motel and London. Pinsk
; nrra 'Item ram 5; 4:43
party man. Neither was he a writer .1 4
by
the
Sixth
Zionist
Congress
to
The
question
posed
by
H.
G.
Wells
:
and Manchester, Yiddish and
send an expedition to East Africa. in the Daily Chronicle: "And now, I like Herzl nor an orator like
nniu .n,1?1; ap.p art nb *?9
Hebrew. Russian and English cul-
I Jabotinsky, but in the general
ture. He concentrated his energies It was clear to all participants what is to prevent the Jews having
lttn
that the Seventh Zionist Congress Palestine and restoring a real : debate at Zionist Congresses he sync :m"0!? nitiav cro?o
exclusively upon science and Zion-
(1905) would have to make a final • Judea'?' ", was repeated in var. ; dominated the Congress. He was •
.M5F
,131,
ism. No other activities interested
ious newspapers and at Zionist' capable of love as well as of hate.
sion on the project.
him. Ile put his complete trust in deci
,rntri
r
1 He could win friends but make ain-ter
meetin gs.
England until the sad disappoint.
III
' enemies, too. Still his love could
,*15 .s11u2f
,1,Nu2
ment of the White Paper of May
Those entitled to negotiate with : I overcome his hate. Let me recall •
Weizmann's
First
1939 which aimed at the destruc-
England on behalf of the Zionists ; one small episode: during the
On Vain ltn
Political
A
t:
tion of all he had fought so hard ; On July 25, 1904, a few days were Nahum Sokolow and Yechiel 1 i Zionist Congress in 192' j• . after
c!rm in1 nninyi rribnrt
Zionist
to build in Palestine.
bers of the Zionist!
m e -m
Tschlen•
Fr-eci as .- . of •
xecuti-
'' —
- in
On July 3, 1904, Herzl. founder' after Weizmann arrived in London, Executive,
certain oc- : the opp
.
ve,
aa:r.st NV•21a..ann
opposition).
114.-1*; rp-paca 161
of political Zionism, died in Vienna he paid a visit to the House of gree, Joseph Cowen as president ' 1 - hobezt Stricker, " Jabotinsky arid '
at age 44. Chaim Weizmann, at Commons, with a letter of recom- of the Z.F. Others in England ' I were standing together in I.-I ,: 141 Wm/4V 134??? VP?PV
that time in Berlin, had to decide mendation. from Haham Gaster, were Haham Gaster, vice-president corridor. Suddenly Weizmann ap-
i t3 D'1F7Y0 onvEM 1n1 1710 •
between Berlin. Jerusalem, Paris and was introduced to Lord Percy of the 11th Zionist Congress (1913),
peared. Stricker turned and left.
or Manchester as his future and to Sir Clement Hill of the Weizmann and Leopold Kessler, Weizmann walked over to Jat,utin- .1 An? Aribl rth ,a4m0 ri4
domicile. Leaving Berlin, Weiz.. foreign office. Weizmann told members of the Z.A.C. and Herbert ,
1 sky and embraced him. Without
mann went to Paris and from there them that the majority of the
.7159 .17:1 .11?? -(nt?)
Commander of the Order a word they kissed each other in
to London, where he arrived a Zionists considered the movement Bentwich,
145 pcip ;op;
of Ancient Maccabeans.
a:15'?n
Russian fashion and departed.
as
a
national
rebirth
of
the
Jewish
few days after Herzl's death.
-
•
Weizmann
renew
Weizmann's life was Zionism.
•Tvlin; 'Pr? pl
It was destiny which chose Eng- people which could not take place
land, although it was Weizmann anywhere but in the Holy Land. ance with Balfour, saw Lloyd "If you deprive me of Zionism", :my
'an ic4;

nnxz

to

alone who decided to come here. The rebirth would either take place George, and gradually emerged to he said in 1903, "my life i. not
renriva ring 1
n'Tp3
He was advised by Haham Moses in Palestine or not at all. Welz- the fore. It was then that his worth living".
great ability as statesman became
e o b jections
Gaster to do so. Gaster wrote to mann exp a fi ne d
He became president of the State
Charles Dreyfus, Manchester Zion- the establishment of a Jewish set- apparent. Driven by an iron will, of Israel, because of the Balfour ors .r -1?! rep 11,7) .01,-1311 a?
ist, asking him to befriend Weiz- tlement in East Africa. with passion for his goal, he soon Declaration, and because of the n7R7./ .`ntlir; W1V re,?i, '1?
became the leader who not only
mann• who after a short stay in
After the conversations Weiz-
Balfour Declaration — the State of bp.)
rtly..un rio-My? -rau 15 .
London. left for Manchester. Two . mann wrote to Lord Percy and Sir co-ordinated the political work but Israel became a reality.
acted as spokesman and negotiator
years later, in 1906, Dreyfus in- . Clement Hill summarizing their
When we extul Herzl, let us not it'a ma mg ;Mix *my .apix
for
the
Jewish
people.
But
in
order
troduced Wiezmann to Arthur discussions. He quoted Sir Clement
negotiate with authority Weiz- forget Nordau and Wolffsohn, when .13 Glir
: nip any) Arvin.;
James Balfour. , Hill who said: "If I were a Jew, to
mann needed official recogniztion we praise Weizmann, we must
1;? nva• mylpf
oppose
such
I
should
absolutely
and it seemed advisable to have remember Skololow, Cowen, Brod- .*no
II
a project. As a Zionist, one has this conferred on him by the Z.F. etsky, Kisch, Eder, Marks, Sieff
Uganda
9F4 `?F5.
C'Int ?
nOST
hive to look for in Africa."
To become president of the Z.F. and others. They all belong to-
Weizmann appeared as a dele-
Lord Percy and Sir Clement Hill was now a political necessity. As gether, though they represent dif- nt'ls 311P 33 "nril trInf "W.?
gate for the first time at the Sec-
and Zionist Congress in Basle in compiled minutes of their con- president, his authority among ferent approaches to Zionism.
•^Tqt4?" "Trg
4PriP17214
One could say that without Herzl
1898. There he made the acquaint- 1 versations with Weizmann, under- Zionists and as negotiator with
British statesmen, would be un- there would not have been a Weiz- n-tiVr:ler 01179P? ;11 / ,70 nir
ance of Dr. Gaster, w ho was 18 lining that the Foreign Office
a questioned. Joseph Cowen, though mann, Ben Gurion or Dayan. Be-
his
senior,
and
soon
a
friend-
no
particular
reason
to
establish
years
pl ao ma 1?
ship developed between them which Jewish colony in East Africa if certain to be re-elected, voluntarily cause of Herzl and Weizmann,
1
71173
was to lead to their close coopera- the Jews themselves no longer resigned at the Conference of whom Winston Churchill called "a 4 ';')
February 1917, and Weizmann be- man of vision and genius", who •
tion in Zionist affairs. Both were wished for it.
imc3 uvri,
crlri trva:
Weizmann first intended to pub- came president of the Z.F.
"led his people back into their
opposed to Ilerzl and especially to
.110 13,1%-r:
the East Africa (Uganda) project. lish his correspondence with the
Weizmann's talent as a diplomat Promised Land", we have a Jew- capnv *3 InV23
Gaster regarded Wiezmann as his foreign office but came to the was one of the surprising revela- ish State and a government, an
AnUt
ph*
*?1,
at pp
most loyal confidant, while Weiz- conclusion that it should be kept tions of the First World War. He army and a Hebrew University.
mann considered Gaster the future secret, because his negotiations
leader of the Zionist Organization were a breach of Zionist discipline
— and that might have meant the COLPA Praises Grant of New York Funds to
Weizmann was 30 years of age end of his place in Zionist history.
NEW YORK (JTA)—A New Jer- the New Jersey Higher Educa- dence that if the New Jersey de-
when he arrived in England. He
IV
sey Supreme Court unanimous rul- tional Facilities Authority Law. cision was appealed to the United
knew some of the leaders of the
States Supreme Court, as a num-
ing that the grant of state funds to
The
"Manchester
School"
Zionist Federation (Z.F.) but was
Berman said the decision handed ber of decisions in various states
college building programs does not
disliked because of his opposition Ilerzl had the "Kadima", "Ivria"
now are being appealed, "it will be
recently
continued
"the
over-
violate
the
church-state
separation
to Ilerzl and later to David and other student bodies behind
And principle, even if the colleges are whelming trend that has been set vindicated and the principle will
Wolffsohn. In London he had one him ready to follow and help.
religiously affiliated, was lauded in recent years in both federal and be more firmly established that
Weizmann
had
the
"Manchester
friend only — Haham Gaster. For
by Jules Berman, president of the state courts upholding governmen- governments have a responsibility
a long time Weizmann was isolated Group" or "Manchester School".
National Jewish Commission on tal aid to the secular programs of to assist all children, even those
in English Zionist circles. In 1910, a monthly journal, Law and Public Affairs (COLPA). religiously affiliated educational attending religiously affiliated
The
state funds are provided under institutions." He expressed midi- schools."
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
48 Friday, July 31, 1970

-

Colleges

—