The Letters and Papers of Chaim Weizmann: August 1898-July 1931

Book excerpt: These two volumes of the papers of Chaim Weizmann, the first president of Israel, are essential for a complete understanding of Weizmann's thinking as a Jew, as a scientist, and as a political leader. They present statements deeply thought out, often polished before delivery, and intended for insertion into an historical record. This selection, which spans his life from 1898-1952, includes speeches (many of them to closed audiences and not previously published), private interviews, evidence before investigating committees, minutes of meetings, meirtbranda, and newspaper articles. It is evident from these papers that Weizmann had a larger vision of an audience before him: whether it be a group of listeners, a mass of readers, a government department, or an influential interlocuter. The earliest documents represent Weizmann's ideas alone; later ones reflect the views of like-minded Zionists and express the collective striving of his nation. These papers, together with the previously published twenty-three volumes of the letters of Chaim Weizmann, constitute a matchless commentary on over sixty years of dedication to building a nation-state on moral foundations.