Chaim Weizmann was one of the greatest transformational leaders of Zionism.
He lacked the fiery qualities of Jabotinsky, Begin, and Ben Gurion, yet he left
his mark on the history of Israel not only because of his boundless efforts to
establish its material foundations, but also by virtue of his personal charm and
the serenity of his character. Although most were captivated by his personality,
his political opponents turned against him to isolate him throughout his political
career and eventually left him in a position devoid of real power.

Weizmann was born on November 27, 1874, in the Russian town of Motol
within the Pale of Settlement, a ghetto-like region that contained a large Jewish
population. He was the third of 15 children born to Ozer and Rachel-Leah
Weizmann. Ozer was a woodcutter who spent most of his time away from
home. The young boy was highly influenced by the frequent waves of virulent
anti-Semitism and persecution that the Jews of the Pale had to endure. ¹ He
absorbed his father's qualities of objectivity, skepticism, and patience.

Weizmann began his education at the age of 4 in the traditional Jewish cheder
(school) where he was taught by Rebbi Avraham Yitzchak and Rebbi Avraham
Metelenski. The latter introduced Weizmann to modern Hebrew literature, po-
litical science, and chemistry. Numerous discussions concerning Zionism and
the future of the Jews had taken place in Weizmann's house. ²

Weizmann was 11 years old in 1885, when he left home to attend the gym-
nasium in Pinsk. His gift for statesmanship was amply demonstrated early in
life. In a letter to his Hebrew teacher, he expressed support and sympathy for
the Hovevei Zion (Lovers of Zion) movement, and determined that only Pal-
estine could provide refuge for the downtrodden Jews of the Diaspora. The
letter indicated his awareness that Great Britain was the only power capable of
creating such a haven. "All have decided: THE JEWS MUST DIE," he wrote,

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