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.