Theodor Hertzl's second funeral, Aug 17 th, 1949 (part one)

One of the most exciting events in the history of the jewish people in the early days of the State of Israel was the burial of Benjamin Zeev Herzl in Israel.

The period in which Herzl's bones were raised (in August 1949) was not simple.

Israel was founded recently, only a month has passed since the end of the War of Independence.

Herzl's coffin was placed for 12 hours on a raised platform with seven pillars in Herbert Samuel Square, at the end of Allenby Street in Tel Aviv. 

Thousands visited the site day and night.

Original B/W photo by Rudi Wizenstine

Most likely the moment the photo above was taken by the photographer David Eldan.

According to estimates,  250,000 people attended hertzl's funeral procession. 

This was an incredible number of nearly one-fifth of the country’s residents. 

The local press did an extensively coverage of the funeral procession, and the event was documented by professional and amateur photographers. 

It left a strong mark on the residents of the young country. Most people of the period will remembered for the rest of their lives what they did that day when Hetzl had his second funeral.

The next few photos are courtesy of the "Zalmania" and the Rudi Wizenstine collection.

photo by Rudi Wizenstine

Original B/W photo by Rudi Wizenstine

Original B/W photo by Rudi Wizenstine

Original B/W photo by Rudi Wizenstine

Original B/W photo by Rudi Wizenstine

Original B/W photo by Rudi Wizenstine

Hetzel's coffin stayed in Tel Aviv overnight before starting its second leg on its journey.

The second stop was "Beit Hamosadot Haleomiem" "בית המוסדות הלאומיים" 

in Jerusalem

From Vienna to Jerusalem

Herzl's Funeral was a major event, the like of which had not been seen before in the young state of Israel. 

The complex operation included opening Herzl's family tomb  in Vienna, flying his remains and the remains of his family to Israel and an organized long funeral procession, which began at Lod Airport, passed through Tel Aviv and ended at the summit of Mount Herzl. 

Jewish brigade soldiers visiting The Herzl family tumb site, in Vienna, after WW2

This is the official memo that was handed to the pilots of the El Al flight captain.

The memo is about the historical importance of this moment in the Jewish nation. 

Fighter jets accompanied the El Al plane, which carried his coffin to Israel 

This Israeli stamp was issued on the date of the funeral 

to commemorate the occasion. 

First leg of Theodor Herzl's funeral (along with the remains of his family members)

was an official funeral ceremony in Vienna.

Herzl’s coffin arrives at Lydda airport and taken off an El Al airplane

. Aug 17th 1949

Sam Diamond, Israel Government Press Office

The cloth which covers  Herzl's coffin was prepared by the women of Vienna in the 1930s. 

After the funeral it disappeared.

The cloth was lost for many years until it was discovered in a storage box at the Keren Kayemet offices.

Today it is on display at the "Keren Kayemet" museum in Tel Aviv