Document on the Subject of Collecting "Shekalim" – Signed by Theodor Herzl and by Five Members of the Executive ...

Document on the Subject of Collecting "Shekalim" – Signed by Theodor Herzl and by Five Members of the Executive Committee Elected in the First Zionist Congress – Vienna, 1897
Stenciled circular, on behalf of the Executive Committee of the First Zionist Congress, on official stationary of the Executive Committee of the Zionist Congress ("Bureau des Zionisten-Congresses"), hand-signed by all five committee members, including Theodor Herzl. Vienna, October 25, 1897. German.
In this circular letter, Herzl and the committee members refer to the first Zionist Congress, held in Basel two months earlier, and describe it as a "Big success, victory for Zionism". Further on, they ask to emphasize the importance of transferring funds – "Shekel" (Schekel) – to enable the routine and continuous activities of the committee and list instructions to 'Shekalim collectors': rates of Shekel in various currencies (Franc, Shilling, Mark, Dollar and other currencies), receipts to be given to donors, from a booklet (most probably, a receipts-booklet originally enclosed with the circular letter), address of deposit (the home of Dr. Oser Kokesch in Vienna) and some other instructions. The committee members also mention that the above collection procedure is temporary, and that in the future, funds will be deposited in a bank in England. The circular letter ends with "Zionist greetings", and is signed by five committee members: Theodor Herzl, Oser Kokesch, Yona (Johan) Kremnitzky, Dr. Alexander Minz and Dr. Moritz (Moshe) Tobias Schnierer.
This copy of the letter has a number of additions and corrections written by hand, including the comment "begin immediately to collect the Shekel in your circle of acquaintances" (on top of the second page).
At the First Zionist Congress held in Basel, at the end of August 1897, several decisions were reached with the purpose of realizing the vision of the Zionist movement: it was decided to implement the Basel Program (which stated that Zionism seeks to secure for the Jewish people a publicly recognized, legally assured homeland in Palestine) and to establish various institutions that would serve to promote and realize the ideals of the movement, the first of these being the World Zionist Organization.
In the framework of founding the World Zionist Organization, a General Central Committee of 18 members was elected, and from these an Executive Central Committee consisting of five members – all residents of Vienna – was appointed, headed by Dr. Theodor Herzl. The role of the Executive Central Committee, was to serve as a high-level management body – a sort of 'government' – of the General Central Committee.
The five members of the first Executive Central Committee were Dr. Theodor Herzl [the father of Zionism as an institutional movement] who served as chairman, Dr. Oser Kokesch [attorney, one of the first members of 'Kadima' student association, among the founders of the Viennese Zionist 'Admat Yeshurun' association and member of the first committee of 'Otzar Hityashvut HaYehudim'], who served as secretary, Yona (Johann) Kremenetzky [wealthy Zionist entrepreneur and industrialist, pioneer of the European electricity industry, first chairman of JNF], Dr. Alexander Mintz [attorney, participated in the committee for formulating the Basel Program, member of the Committee for Practical Settlement], and Dr. Moritz (Moshe) Tobias Schnierer [author and personal doctor of Theodor Herzl, who also accompanied Herzl on his visit to Palestine in 1898, co-founder of 'Kadima' student association, 'Ahavat Zion' association and 'Admat Yeshurun' association, member of the Committee for Practical Settlement].
[2] leaves (3 written pages), approx. 29 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, creases, defects and folding marks. Tears and open tears at margins and along folding marks (mostly small), some repaired with adhesive tape. Open tears to upper right corner of first leaf, and lower right corner of second leaf, not affecting text.