Early letter by Chaim Weizmann to Dr. Moshe Gaster regarding the strengthening of Zionist activity in London. May 1914

Early letter by Chaim Weizmann to Dr. Moshe Gaster regarding the strengthening of Zionist activity in London. May 1914

Early letter in the handwriting and signature of Chaim Weizmann to Dr. Moshe Gaster, leader of Romanian and British Zionism. May 30, 1914.

Weizmann and Dr. Gaster were good friends, and there was fruitful cooperation between them in advancing the Zionist interest. (The signing of the Balfour Declaration and its delivery to Weizmann took place at Dr. Gaster's home).The letter deals with the promotion of Zionist activity by the important community leaders in London. In his letter, Weizmann thanks him for his previous letter, adding that he was happy to hear about the negotiations with Eidelman Mussar, and that "it would be possible to convince the members of Berlin in our views". And asks if he already knows what a Eidelman Mussar intends to speak in the speech he was supposed to deliver. Towards the end of the letter, Weizmann writes that in June he intends to travel to Paris to give a speech, and consults with him on how can Baron James de Rothschild be made financially supportive in light of his ties to England Jewry, and whether assistance can also be obtained from the Pinto family, and concludes that he intends to come to London soon to the place of Gaster's seat, for further co-operation.

In February 1907, Weizmann was elected vice president of the Zionist Organization of England. At that time, He tried to attract Jewish capitalists to the Zionist enterprise. And on January 3, 1914, he first met Baron Edmund James de Rothschild at his home in Paris. At the end of December he again visited Edmund, who assured Weizmann of his support and introduced him to Lord Barty, the British Ambassador to France. Thanks to his connections with the Rothschild family, in August 1915 Weizmann also became acquainted with Lord Robert Cecil, who was then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. From 1915 to 1916, after Weizmann himself moved to London, he developed social ties with influential families, thanks to whom he also made contact with groups of politicians, government officials, journalists and academics, and even tried his hand at receiving direct assistance from the British government.

The recipient of the letter is Dr. Moses Gaster (1856-1939), one of the leaders of Romanian and British Zionism, a Jewish public figure born in Romania, a sage of the Spanish community of London. Since he was involved and active in the Hovevei Zion movement in Romania, Dr. Gaster naturally participated enthusiastically in the political Zionist movement from its inception. Founded and headed the England Zionist Federation. Following the greatness of his admiration to Herzl, for one of his children he called "Theodor Herzl." During the First World War, he took part in negotiations with the British authorities regarding the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, negotiations that led to the "Balfour Declaration." which was signed and delivered to Weizmann at Gaster's home.

[1] leaf. 29x21 cm. Folding marks. Good condition.