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Chaim Weizmann: A Biography
A magisterial biography of Israel’s first president.
In Chaim A Biography , Jehuda Reinharz and Motti Golani show how Weizmann, a leader of the World Zionist Organization who became the first president of Israel, advocated for a Jewish state by gaining the support of influential politicians and statesmen as well as Jews around the world. Beginning with his childhood in Belorussia and concluding with his tenure as president, Reinharz and Golani describe how a Russian Jew, who immigrated to the United Kingdom in the early twentieth century, was able to advance the goals of Theodor Herzl, the founder of the Zionist Organization. Weizmann is also shown as a man of human foibles—his infatuations, political machinations, and elitism—as well as a man of admirable qualities—intelligence, wit, charisma, and dedication.
Weizmann, who came to the UK to work as a biochemist, was in regular communication with British political figures, including prime ministers Arthur James Balfour, David Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, and Ramsay MacDonald. He also met presidents of the United States from Woodrow Wilson to Harry Truman. His success in earning the support of British political figures helped lead to the Balfour Declaration, which advocated for a “national home” for the Jewish people in Palestine.
As the authors show in this authoritative account of Weizmann’s life, Weizmann was guided by the belief that “Zion shall be redeemed in justice,” a phrase that recurs often in his writings.
In Chaim A Biography , Jehuda Reinharz and Motti Golani show how Weizmann, a leader of the World Zionist Organization who became the first president of Israel, advocated for a Jewish state by gaining the support of influential politicians and statesmen as well as Jews around the world. Beginning with his childhood in Belorussia and concluding with his tenure as president, Reinharz and Golani describe how a Russian Jew, who immigrated to the United Kingdom in the early twentieth century, was able to advance the goals of Theodor Herzl, the founder of the Zionist Organization. Weizmann is also shown as a man of human foibles—his infatuations, political machinations, and elitism—as well as a man of admirable qualities—intelligence, wit, charisma, and dedication.
Weizmann, who came to the UK to work as a biochemist, was in regular communication with British political figures, including prime ministers Arthur James Balfour, David Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, and Ramsay MacDonald. He also met presidents of the United States from Woodrow Wilson to Harry Truman. His success in earning the support of British political figures helped lead to the Balfour Declaration, which advocated for a “national home” for the Jewish people in Palestine.
As the authors show in this authoritative account of Weizmann’s life, Weizmann was guided by the belief that “Zion shall be redeemed in justice,” a phrase that recurs often in his writings.
820 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2020
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About the author
Jehuda Reinharz
26 booksJehuda Reinharz served as President of Brandeis University from 1994 until 2010. He is currently the Richard Koret Professor of Modern Jewish History and Director of the Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry at Brandeis. He is also the president and CEO of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 27, 2024
I learned much from this book about the origins of Israel and how it fit into the big picture of WWI, WWII, and decolonization. I probably would have enjoyed it more if were half its length. It took a lot of effort because it was almost obsessively detailed. I think it may have been written more for a specifically scholarly audience than the general history buff.
As I am finding with many historical figures, I probably would not have liked them based upon their personalities and how they treated people. Yet, the world would not be what it is today (both positive and negative) without very talented individuals driven by their own personal ambition to change the status quo.
With regards to Israel, this is not a history of the country's founding except in a geopolitical sense. I have read the Leon Uris novels centered on the wars. I would like to find a good nonfiction account of Israel's history.
In spite of reading 812 pages of dense detail, I do not feel I really understand the Zionist vs. non-Zionist factions, let alone all the other groups. It is very hard for a non-Jew to understand the current attitudes of both American and Israeli Jews towards today's conflicts. The Palestinian attitudes seem not to have changed a bit over a hundred years. Indeed, the attitude of the developed states also seem static. They may support the Palestinians as terrorists, but they don't seem to have any interest in developing Palestine to encouraging them to be more than victims.
As I am finding with many historical figures, I probably would not have liked them based upon their personalities and how they treated people. Yet, the world would not be what it is today (both positive and negative) without very talented individuals driven by their own personal ambition to change the status quo.
With regards to Israel, this is not a history of the country's founding except in a geopolitical sense. I have read the Leon Uris novels centered on the wars. I would like to find a good nonfiction account of Israel's history.
In spite of reading 812 pages of dense detail, I do not feel I really understand the Zionist vs. non-Zionist factions, let alone all the other groups. It is very hard for a non-Jew to understand the current attitudes of both American and Israeli Jews towards today's conflicts. The Palestinian attitudes seem not to have changed a bit over a hundred years. Indeed, the attitude of the developed states also seem static. They may support the Palestinians as terrorists, but they don't seem to have any interest in developing Palestine to encouraging them to be more than victims.
Displaying 1 of 1 review