Historical pictures

Published: NOVEMBER 28, 2013 10:06

Rabbi Isaac Herzog 521 (photo credit: Library of Congress) — Rabbi Isaac Herzog 521

(photo credit: Library of Congress)

Newly-elected Labor leader Isaac Herzog’s lineage is documented in these pictures from the Library of Congress’s archives.

The Labor Party this week elected its new leader, MK Isaac “Buji” Herzog, a veteran Israeli politician.

Many observers of Israeli politics know that he is the son of the late president of Israel, Chaim Herzog, and Aura Herzog, the sister of Suzy, Abba Eban’s widow.

Isaac Herzog’s lineage is documented in these pictures from the Library of Congress’s archives. His grandfather, Rabbi Isaac Herzog, was the Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Ireland and Palestine (and after 1948, the chief rabbi of Israel). He moved to Eretz Yisrael in 1936 when he succeeded chief rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. Today’s Labor Party leader was born a year after his grandfather died, and was given his name.

MK Herzog’s grandmother, Sarah Herzog, “The Rabbanit,” is pictured here (in the dark suit) with other “leading ladies” of the Yishuv, Rahel Yanait Ben-Zvi (right) and Ita Yellin. Rahel was married to Yitzhak Ben- Zvi, Israel’s second president. Mrs. Herzog succeeded Yellin as volunteer head of Ezrat Nashim Hospital, displaying tremendous energy and tenacity to gather support for the hospital, which is today named the Sarah Herzog Hospital in her honor.

A persistent Jerusalem rumor hints that Jordan’s King Talal bin Abdullah (King Hussein’s father) was institutionalized at some point at the Ezrat Nashim Hospital, for the severe depression and schizophrenia that led to his dethroning in 1952.

Rabbanit Herzog was mother to two sons: Yaakov and Chaim, who both served in senior posts. Yaakov, a rabbi as well as diplomat, served in Washington and Canada and as a senior adviser to Israeli prime ministers.

David Ben-Gurion referred to him as “Israel’s Tzafnat Pa’aneah,” the name granted to Joseph by Pharaoh for his wisdom and advice.

Chaim Herzog served as Israel’s president (1983-1993) after serving in the IDF and as ambassador to the United Nations. Many recall the ambassador standing at the UN podium tearing up the “Zionism is racism” resolution, an action once taken by his father, the chief rabbi, at the May 18, 1939, demonstration where he tore up the British White Paper.

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Rabbanit Sarah Herzog, in dark suit, between Rahel Yanait Ben-Zvi (r) and Ita Yellin. (Library of Congress, 1939)