Weizmann Signs Menu Returning from First U.S. Visit

WEIZMANN, CHAIM. (1874-1952). Russian born chemist, Zionist leader and Israel’s first President. Signed menu. 3pp. 4to. Aboard Cunard’s RMS Queen Mary, May 9, 1949. A menu illustrated with a color image of the ship, signed in Hebrew by Weizmann, and members of his official entourage who accompanied him on his historic first trip to the United States as Israel’s president, including his wife, First Lady VERA WEIZMANN (1881-1966); German-born, Israeli doctor SAMUEL GEORGE ZONDEK (1894-1970); the Weizmann’s eldest son BENJAMIN WEIZMANN (1907-1980); chemist and founder of Israel’s nuclear program DAVID BERGMANN (1903-1975); and Weizmann’s aide-de-camp DAVID ARNON (1912-1968).



After lecturing on chemistry at the University of Geneva, Weizmann immigrated to England where he accepted a position at Manchester University. While there, he gathered a group of Zionists that came to be known as the Manchester School and whose main purpose was to disseminate information about Zionism through the publication of pamphlets, books and newspaper articles. Weizmann was instrumental in convincing the British cabinet to support a Jewish settlement in Palestine, where, in 1934, he founded the Weizmann Institute of Science, near his home in Rehovot. Weizmann became Israel’s first president on February 16, 1949, a position he held until his death three years later.



In April 1949, “President Weizmann visited the United States. Met by crowds of record-breaking size, he mobilized an unprecedented $23 million in contributions for the State of Israel and for the fledgling scientific research facility which now bears his name – the Weizmann Institute of Science,” (“Chaim Weizmann,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/state/pages/chaim weizmann.aspx). He departed the U.S. on May 6, and returned to Europe aboard the Queen Mary, along with his official entourage, during which time he signed our menu.



Vera met Chaim at the Zionist Club while studying medicine in Switzerland. During the 30 years the couple lived in England, Vera worked as a pediatrician, implementing numerous advances in public health, both in England and Israel. She was a founding member of the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) as well as a supporter of numerous charitable causes.



Zondek, also a physician, was awarded the Iron Cross for his medical service during World War I. In addition to practicing medicine, he was a professor of internal medicine and pharmacology. Following Hitler’s election as Germany’s chancellor, Zondek fled to Switzerland and England before settling in Palestine in 1934, where he became the head of internal medicine at Tel-Aviv’s Hadassah Hospital. His brother Bernhard was a prominent endocrinologist and gynecologist who developed the first modern pregnancy test, and another brother, Hermann, was a pioneer in endocrinology. All three brothers worked at Manchester Victoria Memorial Jewish Hospital in England before their Aliyah. During World War II, Benjamin Weizmann served in the RAF as an anti-aircraft gunner, but suffered a nervous breakdown from which he never fully recovered, living out the rest of his life, out of public view, as a dairy farmer in the Irish countryside. (The Weizmann’s other son, Michael, lost his life during WWII flying for the RAF.)



An organic chemist, Bergmann was ousted from his position at the University of Berlin by the Nazis, prompting him to join his colleague, Weizmann, in Palestine in 1934, where he served as the scientific director for what became the Weizmann Institute. After Israel’s creation, Bergmann headed the scientific division of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and founded, in 1952, the Israel Atomic Energy Commission.



Arnon was a member of Haganah and, during World War II he worked for British Intelligence serving as a member of the British Army’s Jewish Brigade. Following Israel’s creation, he became a lieutenant colonel in the Israeli Army and was Weizmann’s aide-de-camp.



Some light spotting and a bit of wear, otherwise very fine. A wonderful and early U.S. – Israel association item.