Israel finally reunites Herzl’s grandparents with founder at Mount Herzl after 77 years.

Israel commemorated a significant moment in its history as the remains of Theodor Herzl’s grandparents, Shimon (Leib) and Rivka Herzl, were interred at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. This ceremony brought the grandparents alongside the remains of the political Zionism founder, fulfilling a long-held wish. President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, high-ranking officials, the World Zionist Organization, the Herzl family, and Serbian dignitaries gathered for the event, which concluded a years-long effort to relocate the grandparents’ remains from Belgrade.
The reburial occurred exactly 77 years after Herzl was interred at the site that now bears his name, a detail he himself requested regarding the final resting place of his family. Herzog highlighted the influence of Herzl’s grandfather, Shimon Leib, who served as a synagogue gabbai. He described how dreams are passed down through stories and family traditions, noting that Shimon Leib, deeply influenced by Rabbi Yehuda Alkalai, was the man who “opened the synagogue first and locked it last.” Though not a political leader himself, Leib fostered an environment that nurtured the ideas which later formed the basis of modern Zionism.
Shimon Leib was an Orthodox Jew and communal leader in Zemun, Serbia, whose exposure to Rabbi Alkalai’s advocacy for Jewish national restoration decades before Herzl’s time played a crucial role in shaping the family’s worldview. Rivka Herzl, his wife, is also recognized for her part in creating the atmosphere that nurtured the future founder of political Zionism. Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Jewish tradition, the Torah, and the chain of generations provide the deepest foundations for Zionism and the identity of the State of Israel.
The event underscored the enduring connection between personal faith, community leadership, and the collective vision for the Jewish homeland. It served as a poignant reminder of the roots that nourish the ongoing struggle for Jewish self-determination, demonstrating how the past continues to shape the present narrative of Israel and Zionism.

Source: Read the original report