Bezalel style silver plaque bearing views of Palestine and a dedication to Meyer Weisgal for his activity. [Ca. 1940s].
Repoussé, cast and engraved silver; gemstones; rivets; velvet.
Large silver plaque; at its center is a round relief of a farmer driving a pair of oxen pulling a plow (after Erich Goldberg), on which the Hebrew legend "Bezalel Jerusalem" appears. Two blue gemstones are set on the sides of the relief and below appears an engraved Hebrew dedication: "This plaque is a gift to Mr. Meyer Weisgal in appreciation and thanks for your devoted work, your contribution to the Zionist pioneer vision". The central relief is surrounded by reliefs depicting David's Tower, farmers in various tasks and the spies carrying a cluster of grapes on a pole. The verso of the plaque is covered with velvet to which a sticker is attached: "[…] Meyer Weisgal, Weizmann Institute for Science 1988, sale of the collection" (Hebrew).
Meyer Weisgal (1894-1977) was one of the founding fathers of the Weizmann Institute for Science, Chaim Weizmann's confidant, fundraiser and Zionist activist and propagandist. He was born in Kikół, Poland and at a young age immigrated with his parents to the USA. As an adult, he was an active member of the Zionist Movement in the USA, edited the "New Palestine" journal published by the Zionist Organization of America, supervised the Jewish Palestine Pavilion at the 1939-40 New York World's Fair and produced the play "A Flag is Born" by Ben Hecht, which advocated the establishment of the Jewish State. During the years 1940-1946, he served as Chaim Weizmann's representative in the USA.
In 1944, towards Chaim Weizmann's 70th birthday, Weisgal established in the USA a fundraising committee for the scientific institute founded by Weizmann in Rechovot in 1934, which was then called The Sieff Institute, after the son of the donors, Lord Yisrael and Rivkah Sieff. On the initiative of Weisgal (and with the agreement of the Sieff family) the institute was renamed the Weizmann Institute of Science and with the money he raised, it was expanded and additional departments were added to it. When Weisgal immigrated to Israel in 1949, he continued working for the development of the Institute. In 1954 he was appointed the head of its executive committee, in 1964, in honor of his 70th birthday, he received an honorary degree from the Institute and in 1967 was appointed its president. At one and the same time, Weisgal was active in additional fields, heading the committee responsible for the 10th anniversary celebrations of the State of Israel, establishing the Israeli branch of the Variety charity organization, assisting in the production of the film "Exodus" and even playing the role of Ben-Gurion in the film, and more; he also worked tirelessly to publish Chaim Weizmann's writings.
36.5X41 cm. Good condition. Two suspension loops affixed in holes drilled into the upper part of the plaque. Minor dents. Velvet back slightly torn and threadbare.