The Blogs: Get To Know Israel’s Unknown Benefactor

Isaac Leib Goldberg (1860-1935) was a lawyer, Zionist leader, philanthropist and investor in early economic ventures in Palestine. Born in Sakiai, in what is now Lithuania, he studied in a yeshiva in Kovno before moving to Vilna.

He was one of the first members of the Hibbat Zion (Lover of Zion) movement in 1882, was a delegate to the First Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897 and one of the principal founders of the town of Rishon Lezion. He helped to found the Geula Company which bought land in Palestine, and was established by Meir Dizengoff, and the Carmel Wine Company and was a founder of the Haaretz newspaper in 1919.

The first plot of land owned by the Jewish National Fund (200 dunams just east of Hadera) was given by Goldberg as a gift in 1903. In 1908, he purchased the first plot of land on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem for the future Hebrew University (which celebrates its 100th birthday this year).

He died in Switzerland in 1935 and bequeathed half of his estate to the JNF for the promotion of Hebrew language and culture. At the time, it was the largest bequest in the history of Zionism. This donation, known as the Isaac Leib and Rachel Goldberg Fund, continues to operate and has been administered by the JNF for 85 years. The fund provides literary prizes for Hebrew prose and poetry, donates books to libraries in Israel’s peripheral regions and awards scholarships.

Keren Kayement Stamp block of six from 1935. From the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow, Toronto (www.herzlcollection.com). Photograph by David Matlow.

The JNF honoured Goldberg and his outstanding contributions by issuing this stamp in 1935, shortly after his passing. Issuing stamps was one way that the JNF generated revenues and over 5,000 different stamps have been issued since this initiative started in 1902. These stamps have been affixed to official Zionist letters and private correspondence by Jews all over the world.

Notwithstanding his significant contributions, if he is referred to at all, Goldberg is referred to as HaNadiv Ha Lo Yadua (The Unknown Benefactor), in contrast to Baron Edmund de Rothschild who is HaNadiv Ha Yadua (The Well Known Benefactor).

Hopefully this Treasure Trove can help make Isaac Leib Goldberg a little better known. He clearly deserves it.

For more treasures from the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow which appears weekly in the Canadian Jewish News see https://herzlcollection.com/treasure-trove