Berl Katznelson

December 26, 1978

A commemorative postage stamp on Berl Katznelson, first editor of Davar, the first daily newspaper of the Histadrut (the General Federation of Labour) [part of the series ‘Historical Personalities (V)‘] :

Issued by Israel

Issued on 26 Dec, 1978

Designer : The stamps were designed by Z. Narkiss, Tel Aviv

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 2 Pound

Name : Berl Katznelson

Born on 25 Jan, 1887 at Babruysk, Russian Empire [now in Belarus]

Died on 12 Aug, 1944 at Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine [now in Israel]

About :

Born 1887 in Bobruisk, Russia, Berl Katznelson (“Beeri”) was one of the pioneers of Zionist Socialism. He immigrated to Palestine in 1909, worked in agriculture and joined the Jewish Legion in World War I. An outstanding labour leader as well as a writer and editor of many publications, he attended all the Zionist Congresses after the 12^th except one. He was one of the founders of the Histadrut (the General Federation of Labour), a director of the Jewish National Fund; a leading member and ideological mentor of the Labour Party. In 1925 he founded DAVAR, the Histadrut daily, and remained its editor-in-chief to his last day, in 1944. “Beeri”, after whom a kibbutz and “Beth Berl” as well as other institutions were named, had a powerful influence on the cultural development of the Yishuv. His main sphere of activity was the spreading of culture among the working masses and the youth. He founded and headed AM OVED, the Histadrut publishing house.
Berl was a personality who combined a candid character with a sharp intellect; a deep consideration for traditional Jewish values with a practical socialist approach; a persuasive eloquence with a dislike for sham phraseology. He was not ashamed of not finding all the right answers always and at once and he affirmed the right of the public and of the individual to feel confused by political developments. He was respected not because of any important offices he held, but by virtue of the moral positions he took.
While editor of “Davar”, his room was constantly full of uninvited visitors who disturbed him with all manner of grievances and petitions, and when his colleagues suggested that he introduce fixed visiting hours, he replied: “One door in this country should always remain open to the people.”
S. SH.