18 Friday, October 7, 1977
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Weizmann Institute Chancellor Meyer Weisgal
-
Dies, Had Active Career in Zionist Movement
SHERMAN
SURGICAL SUPPLY
JERUSALEM (JTA)—
Meyer W. Weisgal, chan-
cellor, former president and
principal architect of the
Weizmann Institute of Sci-
ence, leader of the Ameri-
can committee that created
it and devoted disciple of
Dr. Chaim Weizmann died
Sept. 29 at age 82, after a
long illness. at Rehovot.
His death ended a notable
career that spanned three
continents, bridged the
worlds of journalism,
drama, literature and sci-
ence, and was studded with
contributions to the creation
of the state of Israel and its
development.
Born in Poland, Mr. Weis-
gal came to the United
States in his youth, studied
journalism at Columbia
University, and served in
the U.S. Army in World War
I.
His long association with
the Zionist Organization of
America began in 1915 and
WHEEL CHAIRS - RENT or SALE
. Ask about 3rd party payments
SHERMAN SURGICAL SUPPLY
13S. Main St., Clawson, Mi. 48017
•
585-0555
A_
MEYER WEISGAL
continued until 1930. During
this period he edited a num-
ber of leading Zionist pub-
lications, including "The
Maccabean," subsequently
converted into "The New
Palestine," which, under his
editorship, became the out-
standing Jewish publication
in the United States.
It's
Oktoberfest
le
Cheddy Brewe
at
t
OF OF110
Smoked sausage links. Made in the
old-world tradition of excellence.
Plump and juicy. Bursting with rich,
meaty flavor. Whether broiled or
fried, enjoy a touch of Bavaria to-
night with Hickory Farms of Ohio ®
Brotwurst. AVAILABLE ONLY
WHILE SUPPLY LASTS.
A sharp cheddar cheese made with just
a nip of beer. Old-world heritage blend-
ed to perfection. Now's the time to
experience a bit of Bavaria at its best —
_during the Hickory Farms of Ohio ®
Oktoberfest.
ENJOY A TASTE OF BAVARIAN STYLE FOOD TONIGHT
to
•
OF 01110 0
EASTLAND CENTER NORTHLAND CENTER
MEADOWBROOK VILLAGE MALL 12 OAKS MALL
THE SUPER CHEESE MARKETT m
From 1921 to 1930. he
served as national secretary
of the ZOA, and in the great
schism of 1921 that split the
American Zionist move-
ment, he fought on the side
of Louis Lipsky and Chaim
Weizmann, with whom he
established relationships
that endured throughout
their lifetimes.
In 1933 he conceived and
directed first "The
Romance of a People" at
the Chicago World's Fair
and in New York, and then
in 1937 produced "The Eter-
nal Road, - a biblical spec-
tacle. In 1939 he built and
directed the Palestine
Pavilion at the New York
World's Fair.
In 1940, Mr. Weisgal
returned actively to Zionist
affairs by becoming Weiz-
mann's personal political
representative in the U.S.
and shortly thereafter
helped establish the Ameri-
can Section of the Jewish
Agency for Palestine.
In 1943 he was appointed
organizing secretary of the
American Jewish Confer-
ence which helped to bring
about agreement on the part
of all American Jewish
organizations, Zionist and
non-Zionist, to seek broad
support for the estab-
lishment of a Jewish state
in Palestine at the end of
World War II.
Through his increasingly
intimate relationship with
Weizmann, Mr. Weisgal
became interested in the
Daniel Sieff Reserach
Institute which Weizmann
had founded in 1934 in Reho-
vot. In 1944, he spearheaded
the formation of the Ameri-
can Committee for the
Weizmann Institute of
Science.
In 1951, Weisgal took a
year's leave of absence
from the Weizmann Insitute
to serve as vice president of
the State of Israel Bond
Organization in the U.S. and
organized the successful
American visit of Premier
David Ben-Gurion which
launched the Bond Organi-
zation's first drive for $500
million.
Mr. Weisgal's close con-
nection with the arts led
him to become chairman of
the board of directors of Tel
Aviv's Cameri Theater and
the initiator of the Itzik
Manger Prize for Yiddish
Literature. He also served
as editor of "Chaim Weiz-
mann-Statesman. Scientist,
Builder of the Jewish Com-
monwealth - published in
1944 and "Chaim Weizmann,
A Biography by Several
Hands" published in 1963.
In 1972 his own memoirs,
entitled "Meyer Weis-
gal...So Far," were pub-
lished in the U.S. by Ran-
dom House, in Great Britain
and Israel by Weidenfeld
and Nicholson and in Ger-
many by Verlag Ullstein.
They were translated into
several other languages and
enjoyed wide ciritcal and
popular acclaim.
Among the honors con-
ferred upon Weisgal were
the Weizmann Institute's
first PhD Honoris Causa
(1964); an honorary docto-
rate of Brandeis University
(1969); an honorary docto-
rate of the Hebrew Univer-
sity of Jerusalem (1969);
the Rothschild Prize for
Merit (1969) awarded to him
at ceremonies held in the
Knesset ; the Remembrance
Award of the World Feder-
ation of Bergen-Belsen
Associations (1974); and the
King Solomon Award of the
America-Israel Cultural
Foundation (1976).
In 1949 Mr. Weisgal was
elected chairman of the
Weizmann Institute's execu-
tive council. In 1966 he was
elected president of the
institute and served until
1970 when he was appointed
chancellor.
Mr. Weisgal leaves his
wife, Shirley; two sons, a
daughter and seven
grandchildren.
EDITORIAL
Genius of MeyerWeisgal
Meyer W. Weisgal was more than a fund-raiser.
His skill in that role was unmatched. He raised mil-
lions for the Weizmann Institute of Science in Reho-
vot, Israel. He inspired supporters and became a
lengend in his own „time in his task to assure the
emergence of a great institution.
His abilities that made his visions realities were
even greater as the man who felt a great need for the
advancement of scientific projects in Israel and
assured their realization.
Dr. Chaim Weizmann's right hand man in guiding
the destinies of the institute that bore the name of the
famous chemist who became the first President of
Israel, Mr. Weisgal brought to the Weizmann
Institute the world's best brains, the leaders in sci-
ence, men and women of great skills. It is thanks to
his labors that the Weizmann Institute is today one of
the great scientific laboratories of the world.
Mr. Weisgal was even more than that. He was
among the most brilliant public relations people any-
where. He knew the value of spreading information
about his cause and he helped raise the Zionist infor-
mation efforts to their highest levels.
He has left his mark in hundreds of Jewish commu-
nities throughout the world and in Israel and the Dia-
spora the tributes to his memory will be marked by
respect and affection.