Edmond James de Rothschild

Baron Edmond Benjamin James de Rothschild (August 19, 1845 – November 2, 1934) was a French member of the Rothschild banking family. A strong supporter of Zionism, his genorous donations lended significant support to the movement during its early years which helped lead to the establishment of the State of Israel.

Early years

A member of the French branch of the Rothschild banking dynasty, he was born in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-sur-Seine, the youngest child of James Mayer Rothschild and Betty von Rothschild. He grew up in the world of the Second Republic and the Second Empire and was a soldier "Garde Mobile" in the first Franco-Prussian War. In 1877 he married Adelheid of Naples, the daughter of Wilhelm Carl von Rothschild with whom he had three children: James Armand Edmond, Maurice Edmond Karl and Miriam Caroline Alexandrine.

Artistic and philanthropic interests

Edmond de Rothschild inherited Château Rothschild, Boulogne-Billancourt and owned the Château Rothschild d'Armainvilliers in Gretz-Armainvilliers in the Seine-et-Marne "département."

Edmond took little active part in banking but pursued artistic and philanthropic interests, helping to found scientific research institutions such as the Institut Henri Poincaré, the Institut de Biologie physico-chimique, the pre-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, the Casa Velázquez in Madrid, and the French Institute in London. He served as a member of the French Academy of Fine Arts and through it sponsored the archaeological digs of Charles-Simon Clermont-Ganneau in Egypt, Eustache de Lorey in Syria, and Raymond Weyl in Palestine.

Edmond de Rothschild acquired an important collection of drawings and engravings that he bequeathed to the Louvre consisting of more than 40,000 engravings, nearly 3,000 drawings, and 500 illustrated books. Included in this gift were more than one hundred engravings and drawings by Rembrandt. A portion of his art collection was bequeathed to his son James A. de Rothschild and is now part of the National Trust collection at Waddesdon Manor. However, in 1882 Edmond cut back on his purchases of art and began to buy land in Palestine. He became a leading proponent of the Zionist movement, financing the first site at Rishon LeZion. In his goal for the establishment of a Jewish homeland, he promoted industrialization and economic development. In 1924, he established the Palestine Jewish Colonization Association (PICA), which acquired more than 125,000 acres (506 km²) of land and set up business ventures.

Edmond de Rothschild also played a pivotal role in Israel's wine industry. Under the supervision of his administrators in Palestine, farm colonies and vineyards were established, and two major wineries were opened in Rishon LeZion and Zichron Yaakov. [ "Encyclopedia of Zionism and Israel, vol. 2, "Rothschild, Baron Edmond-James de," p.966]

It is estimated that Edmond de Rothschild spent over $50 million dollars in supporting the settlements, and backed research in electricity by engineers and financed development of an electric generating station. In a 1934 letter to the League of Nations, Edmond de Rothschild stated that "the struggle to put an end to the Wandering Jew, could not have as its result, the creation of the Wandering Arab."

Death

Baron de Rothschild died in 1934 at Château Rothschild, Boulogne-Billancourt. His wife Adelheid died a year later on December 29 1935. They were interred in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris until April 1954 when their remains were transported to Israel aboard a naval frigate. At the port of Haifa, the ship was met with sirens and a nineteen-gun salute. A state funeral was held with former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion giving the eulogy following which Edmond de Rothschild and his wife were re-interred in Ramat Hanadiv Memorial Gardens near the town of Zichron Ya'akov.

Commemoration

For his Jewish philanthropy Baron Edmond became known as "HaNadiv HaYadu'a", (Hebrew for "The Known Benefactor" or "The Famous Benefactor") and in his memory his son bequeathed the funds to construct the building for the Knesset.

Israel's 1982/5742 Independence Day coin is dedicated to the memory of Edmond de Rothschild and marks the centenary of his first projects in Israel. From 1982 until 1986, the Bank of Israel used his portrait on the 500 Israeli sheqel note. [ [http://www.bankisrael.gov.il/catal/eng/bill_all_eng.htm?series_num=8&series_name=Sheqel%20Series&pg_name=p035&pg_kot=FIVE%20HUNDRED%20SHEQALIM Bank of Israel] .]

Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv is named after him, as well as various localities throughout Israel which he assisted in founding. Rishon LeZion, the city which he helped to found named one of the central streets Rothschild Street, and in 1996 Rothschild Mall was built. Also named after him is the "Parc Edmond de Rothschild" (Edmond de Rothschild Park) in Boulogne-Billancourt.

See also

* Rothschild banking family of France

External links

* "Encyclopedia of Zionism and Israel", vol. 2, "Rothschild, Baron Edmond-James de," p.966, New York, 1971
*cite book
first= Simon
last= Schama
authorlink= Simon Schama
year= 1978
title= Two Rothschilds and the Land of Israel
* [http://www.rothschildarchive.org/ Rothschild Archive]
* [http://www.waddesdon.org.uk/ Waddesdon Manor]
* [http://www.antebiel.com/EN/books/rothchild.html Elizabeth Antébi Book] : "Edmond de Rothschild, The Man who redeemed the Holy Land"

References