Herzl’s Grandparents’ Remains Repatriated to Israel in State Funeral on Mount Herzl

On Wednesday evening, a state funeral was held on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem for Shimon and Rivka Herzl, the grandparents of Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism. Their remains were brought to Israel from Serbia after four years of diplomatic efforts. The ceremony took place 77 years after Herzl’s own remains were reburied in Israel.

President Isaac Herzog spoke at the event, emphasizing the enduring legacy of Herzl’s vision. He noted that history is carried not only in books but in the hearts and actions of individuals. Herzog highlighted the importance of diplomacy alongside military achievements, stating that "there is no complete victory without the political work that follows." He recalled Herzl’s will, which requested that his and his family’s remains be buried in the Jewish state once established, and said, "Today, we complete the fulfillment of that will in full. But the greater task of building the Jewish state continues and rests upon us."

Herzog also addressed the upcoming elections, urging unity despite political divisions, reminding Israelis that elections are not a civil war but a shared mission to build the Jewish state. He expressed concern over recent troubling data about emigration, saying, "My heart aches for every individual, couple, or family leaving for elsewhere. We have no other place."

The repatriation was coordinated by the World Zionist Organization, led by Chairman Yaakov Hagoel and Deputy Dr. Yizhar Hess, in cooperation with the military rabbinate, ZAKA rescue organization, and the Israeli embassy in Serbia. The WZO described the event as a historic gesture reconnecting the Herzl family to the heart of Israel and completing the founder’s will.