Autograph Letter of Chaim Weizmann, London: 21 June 1917

Collection of Chimen Abramsky

An autograph letter of Chaim Weizmann (1874-1952), scientist, statesman and Zionist Leader; the first president of the State of Israel to Isaiah Raffalovich (1870-1956), at that time Rabbi of the Hope Place Synagogue, Liverpool, referencing the battle of Messines, which had been fought on 7-10 June of that year:

21. vi.17

My dear Reverend Raffalovich,

Yes, it was a great day on Sunday and a great victory, but it is not over yet. Our enemies will not rest and try and devise means to hurt us mortally. We must watch things and be on the alert and before all organize and organize for an all Jewish congress, which would definitely consolidate our position.

I am very glad indeed that you have elected me in Birkenhead and  [God forbid] you can make me into a member of a congregation. Anything to give our "friends" a bad time. At the very next opportunity I shall take up the question of the Palestinians with the Government.

With very kind regards

Yours very sincerely

Ch. Weizmann

Have I to write anything to the Birkenhead Congress. Please let me know if ?

The letter is embossed with the address "67 Addison Road, Kensington W." Weizmann and his growing family had moved in October of 1916 to the sprawling fifteen room mansion on a broad tree-lined street that quickly became the center of the Zionist movement in Palestine.

Literature: Leonard Stein ed., The Letters and Papers of Chaim Weizmann: English edition. Volume 7,  #439, p. 448. London : Oxford University Press, 1975.