Herzl's grandparents’ remains expected to arrive in Jerusalem for reburial in coming days

The remains of Shimon and Rivka Herzl, the grandparents of Theodor Herzl, the visionary founder of modern political Zionism, are en route from Belgrade, Serbia, to Jerusalem for reburial. They are set to be interred next to their grandson's grave on Mount Herzl on August 5.

This significant ceremony coincides with the 77th anniversary of Theodor Herzl's own reburial in Jerusalem in 1949, following the exhumation of his remains from Vienna. The event will be attended by high-ranking Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, underscoring the national importance of this reunion.

The initiative, led by World Zionist Organization (WZO) Chairman Yaakov Hagoel, faced multiple delays due to regional security and logistical challenges over the past four years. Hagoel secured the repatriation agreement with Serbian authorities and the local Jewish community, with crucial support from Željka Cvijanović, president of Republika Srpska, during a 2021 visit to Israel.

Shimon Loeb Herzl, an Orthodox Jew, played honorary leadership roles in the Zemun community in Serbia. Influenced by Rabbi Yehuda Alkalai, an early Zionist forerunner, Shimon became a fervent advocate for establishing a Jewish state. His and Rivka's support and guidance significantly inspired Theodor's Zionist thinking. With the exception of Theodor's third daughter, Trude Herzl, whose final resting place is unknown after perishing in the Holocaust, this reburial will reunite the founder of Zionism with his immediate family members in Jerusalem.