The grave of Theodor Herzl, the founder of political Zionism, is sinking into the ground and the World Zionist Organization does not have the money to reconstruct it. The grave began sinking several years ago because its foundation was not strong enough.
Prof. Yitzhak Vershavsky, chairman of the WZO’s organization and information department, estimated that it would cost $30,000 to $40,000 to reconstruct the grave. Addressing the WZO executive committee, he said the Israeli government could not provide the necessary funds. He complained that the government failed to honor its commitment to cover half of the maintenance costs of Herzl’s grave for the past several years.
Vershavsky said that he discussed the problem with Leon Dulzin, chairman of the WZO Executive, who, according to Vershavsky, promised that the necessary funds would be found to restore the grave of the Zionist leader.
Meanwhile, the WZO has initiated a series of events to mark the 125th anniversary of Herzl’s birth starting in May and concluding July 9 which is Tamuz 20 on the Hebrew calender, the date of Herzl’s death. The ceremonies will include the distribution of 500,000 copies of Herzl’s book, “Der Judenstaat” (The Jewish State) published in 1896.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
