Jewry's Role in
Human Affairs
A HOMELAND IS BORN, THE INGATHERING BEGINS
The roots of a new nation grew in the fertile soil tilled by two leaders of
destiny. The "dreamer" Theodor Herzl and the "architect" Chaim
Weizmann stood hand in hand as Zionist pioneers who helped end the
millennia of aimless wandering by a dispossessed people. They shaped a
miracle.no less daunting than that of America's founding fathers.
THEODOR HERZL
1860-1904)b. Budapest, Hungary Zionism's
Political Founder The one-time lawyer, play-
_ right, literary editor and journalist crystallized his
life mission when covering the Alfred Dreyfus
Affair as a news correspondent. The railroading
for treason of an innocent military officer, a
French Jew, convinced him that a national state
7
was the only alternative to European anti-
Semitism. The Jewish State, a pamphlet which he published in 1896.
pressed for an inter-nationally mandated homeland in Palestine and
galvanized youthful idealists of the Hibbat Zion movement.
He was not the first to speak out for Aliya which had earlier been
proposed in principle by Napoleon Bonaparte, Prime Minister Benjamin
Disraeli and Moses Hess, a colleague of Karl Marx. But Herzl was;
above all, an activist who courted people in high position in behalf of the
cause. In 1897 he convened the first Zionist World Congress--despite sharp
opposition by many prominent rabbis--over which he presided.
A tall, imposing figure with a full black beard and prophet's
demeanor, Herzl electrified audiences with pleas to "lay the foundation
stone for the house which will become a refuge for the Jewish nation." But
not all were sympathetic. Emperor William II of Germany and Turkey's
Sultan refused to help charter immigrations to Palestine. The British also
dissented, only to see Herzl's followers form the Anglo-Palestine Bank and
Jewish National Fund pivotal to Israel's birth.
It was he, through strength of character and dynamism, who
unleashed the political power of Zionism to help realize the dream.
Harvested after his short life of 44 years, the fruits of Herzl's labors
fulfilled centuries' of aspiration of a people seeking safety, independence
and freedom. His fitting memorial is a mountain bearing his name.
CHAIM WEIZMANN
1874-1952)b.Motol, Russia Zionist Leader and
First President of Israel One of 15 children born
to a humble lumber dealer, Weizmann was
schooled in Germany and in Switzerland where he
earned a Ph.D. magna cum laude in chemistry.
Settling in England in 1904, he became a
naturalized subject and combined a life of science
with a dedication to creating a Jewish state. In Ad-
dition to earning patents in organic chemistry, Weizmann synthesized
acetone for explosives used during World War One and rose to direct the
British Admiralty Chemical Laboratories (1916).
His international fame as a chemist was surpassed only by his
prominence as a politician with prodigious skills in negotiating for the
English Zionist movement. By sheer force of personality and conviction,
he prevailed in 1917, gaining the support of Foreign Secretary Arthur
Balfour, Prime Minister Lloyd George, U.S. Justice Louis Brandeis and
others in drafting the Balfour Declaration which committed Britain to
establishing a Jewish state in Palestine.
During his career, the ardent advocate was named president of the
World Zionist Federation in 1917 and the World Zionist Organization in
1920. World War Two saw him organize England's Jewish Brigade. And
once more, Weizmann the scientist aided the Allied war effort, this time in
helping produce synthetic rubber.
The builder of a nation retired to Rehovot, Palestine, and formed
the now world-famed Weizmann Institute. While in frail health, the master
diplomat served twice as Israel's president until his death.- Saul Stadtmauer
Were it not for Mr. Jacobson, Harry Truman's former Jewish business partner, the
U.N. might have rejected an Israeli state. He arranged for Weizmann to meet the
- Walter L. Field
President who then had America cast an approving vote.
Visit many more notable Jews at our website: www.dorledor.org
5/3
2002
36
COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY
Walter & Lea Field, Founders/Sponsors
Irwin S. Field, Chairperson
Harriet F. Siden, Chairperson
Honoring
Diversity
Winning student essay explores
the great American melting pot.
LISA FEIN
Special to the Jewish News
A
Temple Israel Religious
School student took first
place in a statewide essay
contest on the topic,
"Celebrate America, Why I'm Glad
America is a Nation of Immigrants."
The 250-word essay by Shelby
Snider, 10, a fifth-grader at Green
Elementary School in West
Bloomfield, will move on to national
Competition.
The American Immigration
Lawyer's Association is sponsoring
the competition for fifth-grade social
studies classes. Kristin Taylor, a
social studies teacher at Green, said
the essay writing "gave the students a
deeper appreciation and better
understanding about diversity being
one of our country's biggest
strengths."
Shelby, an avid reader, said her
essay "described America as a cake,
SHELBY L. SNIDER
Special to the Jewish News
ave you ever made a
cake? Well, you need
lots of ingredients to
make the cake great.
That's America!
And the ingredients are the dif-
ferent nationalities, religions and
backgrounds of those people who
came to America in search of hope
and the different nationalities help-
ing it to be a great cake." She got
the idea from her grandmother,
Harriet Maza, a former English and
journalism teacher at West
Bloomfield High School.
Teresa Maurer is Shelby's social
studies teacher at Green. She called
her pupil's entry "wonderful."
Shelby, she said, "was very enthusi-
astic about the topic and the school
is very proud of her."
Shelby's essay topped 90 Green
and freedom. With them they
brought their foods, music and
ways of dress.
Diversity makes America what it
is today. It started with the English
settlers and they learned the cus
toms of the Native Americans. By
the early 1900s, millions streamed
to America to escape poverty and
practice religious freedom. America
became known as the "great melt-
ing pot') and people blended