In the coming days: The remains of Herzl's grandparents will be brought to Israel and buried beside him in Jerusalem

The remains of the grandparents of the visionary of the state, Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl, will be brought to Israel in the coming days from Belgrade and buried beside him on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, according to information obtained by "Hayom". The remains of the couple, who significantly influenced Herzl's Zionist aspirations, are scheduled to arrive from Europe shortly. On August 5, marking the 77th anniversary of Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl's burial in Jerusalem, a formal funeral ceremony will be held in the capital, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog confirmed to attend.

Sources familiar with the details noted that the initiative, coordinated by the Chairman of the World Zionist Organization Yaakov Hagoel alongside Serbian authorities and the local Jewish community, had been postponed several times due to security concerns but is now nearing completion.

This event holds special significance, given the role Shimon and Rivka Herzl played in their grandson's life. Over the years, they inspired Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl's Zionist perceptions and, in a sense, directed him toward his vision.

Rabbi Shimon, who was close to the spiritual leader of the Jewish community in Zemun and a pioneer of Zionism, Rabbi Yehuda Shlomo Alkalai, served as a gabbai in the local Sephardic synagogue. As the only brother who did not convert to Christianity, he remained steadfast in his Jewish identity and actively promoted the idea of establishing a Jewish state in the Land of Israel, deeply influencing the young Benjamin Ze'ev.

During visits to Budapest, the grandfather would speak enthusiastically about Rabbi Alkalai's Zionist aspirations, including his calls for the settlement of the Land of Israel, which inspired many of Herzl's later writings. Shimon Leib Herzl passed away in 1879, and his wife Rivka in 1888; both were buried in the Jewish section of the cemetery in Zemun, on the outskirts of Belgrade.

Following the establishment of the state, the remains of the visionary were brought from Vienna and reburied in August 1949 on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, alongside his parents and sister. Years later, in 2006 and 2007, the remains of his children and his only grandson, Stephen Theodore Norman, were also brought to Israel for burial. For decades, Herzl's grandparents remained in the small cemetery in Zemun.

During her visit to Mount Herzl in 2021, Željka Cvijanović, then President of Republika Srpska, pledged to assist in bringing the remains of Herzl's grandparents to Israel. After a period of inactivity, the project has been revived and is expected to be carried out in the coming days.