$7,000,000 Educational Trust Named for Weisgal at New York Dinner

The establishment of an International Scientific Educational Trust at the Weizmann Institute of Science, with an initial fund of $7,000,000, to be named for Meyer W. Weisgal, its chairman, to enlarge Israel’s scientific manpower and to increase the Weizmann Institute’s contribution to peace through science, was announced tonight at a dinner at the Americana Hotel marking the 20th anniversary of the Weizmann Institute of Science and honoring Mr. Weisgal as its master builder, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

Announcement of the Meyer Weisgal Scientific Educational Trust, a proposal of Sir Isaac Wolfson, one of Britain’s great industrialists and philanthropists, was made by Sir Isaac, who will serve as international chairman. Although no formal solicitation of funds has been undertaken, the Trust has come into being with gifts in the sum of $1,820,000, representing a million-dollar gift from a donor in England and 12 gifts from friends of the Weizmann Institute in the United States.

As projected by Sir Isaac, $7,000,000, the initial fund to be put into the Trust, will represent the pooling of gifts from a group of private and family foundations as well as individuals, and will be raised in its entirety within the coming months. Its purpose is to increase the reservoir of scientific manpower in Israel, make available fellowships to students from abroad and to enlarge the scope of the Weizmann Institute’s contribution to peace through scientific collaboration.

The announcement of the Meyer Weisgal Scientific Educational Trust was made to an audience of 1,500, attending a dinner arranged under the auspices of an International Committee of more than 460 statesmen, scientists, and leaders in the arts, sciences, business, labor, professions, and education, from 18 countries, headed by the President of Israel Zalman Shazar as honorary chairman, with former President Harry C. Truman, Israel Prime Minister Levi Eshkol; former Prime Ministers David Ben-Gurion and Moshe Sharett; and Mrs. Chaim Weizmann as honorary co-chairmen.

The announcement of the Meyer Weisgal Scientific Educational Trust was made in the context of a series of brief speeches which hailed the Weizmann Institute as “unique in the world”; called for a “creative dialogue between science and statesmanship” to resolve the perilous problems of the world; and which described Meyer Weisgal as an “authenticated genius” with a profound understanding of the scientific spirit, responsible for creating Israel scientific tradition and as the Master Builder of the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Speakers included Dr. I.I. Rabi, University Professor of Columbia University, 1944 Nobel Laureate in Physics; Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner, chairman of the Science Division of M. I. T., former Special Assistant on Science and Technology to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson; Deputy Prime Minister of Israel Abba Eban, and Meyer Weisgal. Dewey D. Stone, chairman of the board of governors of the Weizmann Institute, presided.

The Bronze Medallion of the City of New York was awarded to Mr. Weisgal by Mayer Robert F. Wagner in tribute to “half a century of service to cultural and scientific advancement in our society.” A musical program was presented by the Philadelphia Orchestra with Isaac Stern, violinist, as soloist. Jan Peerce, Metropolitan Opera star, was heard in a number of songs. The proceeds of the dinner, at $350 per person, will be turned over to the Research Fund of the Weizmann Institute.