Sudden Death of Michael Nassatisin, Generous Contributor to Palestine Funds: Large Shareholder, and

Mr. Michael O. Nassatisin, one of the largest contributors to the Palestine funds and an important investor in Palestine enterprises, died suddenly yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, at Bad Kissingen, in Germany, according to advices received here at his home today.

Mr. Nassatisin, who was 56 years of age, was born in Shavli, in Lithuania. He was a big flax exporter in Russia, and during the war was a member of the Commission for supplying linen goods to the Russian army. He left Russia in 1922, and in Berlin, while on his way to London, where he made his home, he gave his first donation to the Keren Kayesod (Palestine Foundation Fund) amounting to £10,000, paid in cash. Until the late Mr. Bernhard Baron gave a cheque for £25,000 to the Keren Hayesod three years later, in 1925, following it with a second cheque for £25,000 in 1926, this remained the largest individual contribution which the Keren Hayesod received. Until Mr. Baron subscribed £100,000 to the Rutenberg Palestine Electric Corporation, he was also the largest shareholder in the Corporation, of which he was an original subscriber and a director. He was the only one of the original shareholders who paid in cash for his shares, amounting to £50,000, immediately on subscribing for them. He was also one of the original subscribers to the Novomeysky Dead Sea Concession Corporation, and he was a founder of the Nesher Cement Company in Palestine, and one of its largest shareholders.

It is estimated that in various ways, Mr. Nassatisin gave about a quarter of a million pounds for Palestine in contributions and investments.

In London, Mr. Nassatisin established the big firm of Nassatisin Ltd., one of the leading firms of flax importers, and he took an active part in the life of London Jewry. He was a member of the Jewish Board of Deputies, and he was Vice-Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Relief Organisations in Great Britain.

Mr. Nassatisin visited Palestine three times, in 1924, 1926, and 1928, and he was contemplating visiting the country again now in order to make arrangements for settling there permanently. He had invested large sums in Palestine land purchase and orange plantations and he had thought of settling on his orange plantation.

Although he was an industrialist himself, he said at a reception given him at the home of Colonel Kisch during one of his visits to Palestine, he was of the opinion that the basis of the country should be agricultural. At the same time, however, he felt that industry must be encouraged in greater measure than heretofore, and it was the duty of the Government and the population at large to render aid for this purpose.

He built an entire quarter of houses in Tel Aviv, and he gave generously to many Palestine institutions, particularly the Herzliah High School in Tel Aviv.

He also helped largely to support the Hebrew schools in the Diaspora, and it was through his financial guarantee that the Hebrew Department was established at the London School of Oriental Studies. He was also a generous contributor towards the issue of Hebrew publications.

Mr. Nassatisin was also greatly interested in the work on behalf of the Jews of Russia, and as Vice-Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Relief Organizations of Great Britain he took an active part in its negotiations with the Soviet Government, which resulted in the agreement concluded with the Soviet Government regulating the relief work of the Federation in Russia, and he was the chief guarantor of the funds which the Federation undertook in the agreement to provide for the purpose of its work. Besides giving large sums himself for the work of the Federation, Mr. Nassatisim was an active collector of funds on its behalf, and undertook several collecting missions of this nature not only in London but also in various Continental centers.

Mr. Nassatisin had attended the Zionist Congress in Basle, which he had followed with close interest, showing strong leanings to the Revisionist movement, which he was thinking of joining. From Basle he went to Riga on business, and before returning to London prior to his contemplated visit to Palestine, he was taking cure at Bad Kissingen. He was in good health on Saturday, but at about 6 o’clock on Sunday morning he had a heart attack. Doctors were called in and he was given an injection, which relieved the pain. At ten o’clock he had a relapse, and was taken to a Sanatorium where he was given injections, which again relieved the pain, but at 1:30 P.M., he had a further attack and died.

Mrs. Nassatisin has left London for Bad Kissingen to arrange for the funeral. It has not yet been decided whether the body will be taken for burial to London or Palestine. Mr. Nassatisin died childless.

The Executive Council of the Federation of Jewish Relief Organizations has arranged a memorial meeting for tomorrow (Tuesday) night, at the offices of the Federation, which will be addressed by Mr. Meer Grossman, Rabbi Daiches, and Mr. Morris Myer, Vice-Chairmen of the Federation.