Words in memory of Israel Yeshayahu

The College for Jewish Culture in the Haifa Region is linked in spirit and soul with the figure of Israel Yeshayahu. When the college was established in September 1997 we received from the former Mayor of Haifa, Amram Mitzna, the approval to acquire a two-story structure in a solitary building in the Sprinzak neighborhood, located in the Western entrance to Haifa. Both the former chairman of the college, Uri Agami, of blessed memory, as well as I, Dean of the college, were in agreement regarding the privilege to title the college and name it after the late Israel Yeshayahu. In our spiritual mind we depicted him to be a symbol of tolerant Judaism that engages in rapprochement and thrives on the rich, cultural heritage of our Nation, throughout history.
We negotiated with Yeshayahu’s family and intended to transfer his library, his writings and his letters to the archive library in the College building. Due to the skeptical opinion of an engineer who checked into it, the building was defined as unstable and dangerous and the College Council refused to enter it. Thus, the dream of the building and the library was shattered and after the passing of the late Uri Agami of a sudden and severe illness in 2000, the College went through an organizational and financial crisis and began working on a voluntary basis.

For the founders of the college, Israel Yeshayahu served as an exemplary figure of both political leadership and cultural inspiration. His coming on Aliyah, by himself, at the age of 18 (in 1929) derived from a Zionism of Yearnings and, as he, himself, defined it. These were “Yearnings for lofty causes, some sort of redemption… human redemption, Jewish redemption, divine redemption…”

As soon as he arrived in Israel he found his way to the pioneers and workers’ camp, became the spokesman of the oppressed and lent his hand to help and console them.

In the collection of his works “Singly and Together” there is a wonderful chapter, unique to him and to his personality, called “The Human Side of Politics”. And, in fact, the two traits that characterized Yeshayahu were seeing the person in the center of social existence – not in general slogans but as real human beings that one should approach and help – together with the comprehensive view of the place of our generation in Jewish history.

One example will illustrate it: While Speaker of the Knesset, Yshayahu convened, in the Knesset, a conference of the First Jewish World Biblical Convention. In the closing session of that distinguished conference – on May 13, 1973, he made a speech titled “From the Assembly of the Elders to the Knesset”, addressing the distinguished and scholarly audience not only by his formal – democratic virtue as Speaker of the House but, no less than that, as a “Talmid Haham” – a scholar who feels and pinpoints the continuity of generations, from the “Parliament” established by Moses in the desert (The 70 Elders) through the “Sanhedrin” (The Jewish Supreme Court) up to the Knesset of today. At that time, there were not too many other members of Knesset who had a historic view and such a Jewish – Zionist cohesive and intensive heritage as Yeshayahu when he spoke that day in the Knesset.

The integration of topical issues and history was especially typical of him – both in his speeches as well as in his fascinating weekly report in “Hapoel Hatzair” which was read at the “gates of the Knesset”. It summarized the events of the week and our national and historic heritage in such a clear and flowing style of a journalist who is both a scholar and a master of style.

Hence, he can be defined as a real Zionist who was well aware of the magnitude of the era and directed his deeds toward that lofty goal.

Dr. Avraham Wolfensohn