Bidspirit auction | Four Hundred Families of Israel's

Four Hundred Families of Israel's Poor – Call in Favor of the Colonial Bank, Otzar Hityashvut Ha'Yehudim – An Important, Unknown Letter of Dr. Theodor Herzl, Signed by him - The 1898 Zionist congress in Basel decided to found a Hebrew bank, 'Beit Otzar Hityashvut Ha'Yehudim'. The Bank issued shares and Herzl dedicated his time to selling them. In his diary he wrote: ”To him who promises me today the success of the sale [of the Bank's shares], I will sell ten years of my life”. In December 1900, the management of the settlements in Israel was passed onto the company of the Baron Hirsch instead of that of the Baron Rothschild. All the local workers who had worked for the Baron Rothschild were fired and 400 families were left with no source of income. The existence of the Bank became an existential issue for those families. The historical document before us reveals a new touching aspect of Herzl – his plead for the poor of the Land of Israel. Following is the letter in translation to English: Vienna, October 12 1900 Partners to our opinion! The poverty of the workers from the colonies in Palestine who have been fired is indescribable. The bodies involved, who could have helped and whose obligation is to help, are not only avoiding their duty but they themselves are the cause of the dismissal…one of the Bank's first roles, when it is finally ready to start its activity, will be to find jobs for the pioneers. Partners to our opinion! Make sure that the bank can start its mission as soon as possible. Make sure that the payments, which are already delayed, are paid. Only thus, the bank will be able to start its activity. Hunger is painful, 400 families of workers, women and children, are anxiously waiting for the accomplishment of the mission. We hope that due to your famous devotion, within a few weeks, you will enable the bank to start functioning so that it makes its first step in its activity in Palestine. Sincerely, In name of the Activity Committee Dr. Herzl, Dr. Kokasch Our dear friend, please pass the letter to all your acquaintances. Likewise, pass it to all newspapers accessible to you for publication. Sincerely, Theodor Herzl [signature in his handwriting]” Rare historical letter! Size: 28X22 cm. Condition: Very Good.