Baron Edmond James de Rothschild (1845

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Baron Edmond James de Rothschild (1845–1934)

Baron de Rothschild was a public figure, known as the "Founding Father of the Yishuv" during the time of the First Aliyah. He was the third son of James Mayer de Rothschild, head of the Rothschild family branch in France.

Edmond de Rothschild had a keen interest in his youth for subjects of the humanities and the arts. He was a member of the Paris Institute of Arts and moved among intellectual circles. Following the riots in Russia against the Jewish community in 1891–1892, he took part in the actions of the French committee assisting with their migration. His interest in Eretz Yisrael already began during the 1880's, while the first settlements established by Zionists were in severe financial difficulties threatening their continued existence. During 1883–1889, Baron de Rothschild covered all the expenses of Rishon LeZion, Zikhron Yaaqov, Rosh Pinna and Eqron, and donated over 5 million pounds for other settlements. The use of his donations was overseen by hired clerks and specialists, while the Baron himself also visited Eretz Yisrael several times.

The Baron encouraged the settlement of Israel with pious, Hebrew speaking, agricultural Jewish immigrants who will be able to provide for themselves. The settlements he had supported were pioneers of the wine industry in Eretz Yisrael.

Baron de Rothschild demanded to remain anonymous and he was mostly known as "The known benefactor." His relation to the Zionist movement was ambivalent, while refusing to support Herzl and disagreeing with Hovevei Zion on one hand and gradually becoming involved in the post-First World War efforts of the Paris Peace Conference (1919) and the Balfour Declaration (1917). In 1923 he established PICA (Palestine Jewish Colonization Association) to administrate his lands in Eretz Yisrael, placing his son James as its President.

Baron de Rothschild was named honorary chairman of the Jewish Agency in 1929. He passed away in 1934 and his remains were brought for burial at Ramat HaNadiv near Zikhron Yaaqov in 1954. Shortly after, his son James wrote a letter to Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion informing him of the decision to donate 6 million Israeli liras for the construction of a permanent Knesset building.