PRESIDENT CHAIM WEIZMANN (ISRAEL) - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 10/08/1951 - HFSID 285834

CHAIM WEIZMANN
Typed letter in Hebrew, signed as President of Israel, thanking a retiring cabinet minister: "my friend and dear teacher" Yehuda Leib Fishman (Maimon).
TLS: "Chaim Weizmann" in Hebrew as President of Israel, 1 page, 6½x8¾. No place, 1951 October 8. On letterhead of the State of Israel to the Honorable Rabbi Yehuda Leib Fishman (Maimon). In Hebrew, translated. In full: "It is not a parable to tell you your honor, my friend and dear teacher, that I have the privilege to work with you for more than 20 years, and I recognize and respect your actions for more than 40 years. Today, when you leave the table of government, I tell you what is in my heart. I don't know anyone from the senior office of the Zionist Movement that awakens in me more honor in his beliefs than you." A carbon copy of this letter was sent to Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. Russian-born chemist and Zionist CHAIM WEIZMANN (1874-1952) was President of the World Zionist Organization (1920-1930, 1935-1946) and the first President of Israel from 1949 until his death on November 9, 1952, just 13 months after he signed this letter. In 1902, Rabbi YEHUDA LEIB FISHMAN (MAIMON) (1875-1962) had attended the conference in Vilna that founded the Mizrachi Movement, which was established in part to "guide the hearts of the people of Israel towards Zion and Jerusalem". On May 14, 1948, the Rabbi was one of the signers of the Proclamation of Israel's independence. A member of the First Knesset, Fishman was also Minister of religions and Minister in charge of war casualties during Weizmann's administration. He gave up politics to return to full-time writing. Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Staple holes at upper right blank margin, 2 file holes at blank right margin. Receipt stamp at lower blank margin, where 1x½-inch portion has been repaired. Overall, fine condition.