Friends!

On this day 142 years ago was born the first President of Israel Chaim Weizmann.

This remarkable figure was born in a family of merchant Ozer in Russian Empire. Ozer had 15 children, Haim was third. While his father worked all the time, he was interested in reading. He made his son love the books. Unfortunately, Haim could not enter the university in Russia, because jews had no due for that. But he successfully entered chemistry faculty in Berlin.

There he became acquainted with the works of Theodore Hretsl and discovered Zionism - Jewish nationalism. At the age of24 he participated in the World Congress of Zionists, before -that he received a doctorate in chemical sciences.

Later Haim moved to England, where he taught biochemistry at the University of Manchester. Weizmann liked the country, and especially - its structure. When Hretsl died, Haim became a leader of Zionism and was able to spread his ideas not only toglobal authorities, but to ordinary people. Weizmann was the the reason why England wrote so-called "Balfour Declaration", which even in 1917 was about "the establishment of the national center for the Jewish people in Palestine."

Haim worked all his lifetime to create the State of Israel. Twice he was elected as a president of the World Zionist Organization. In this capacity, he participated in the UN, when it discussed the partition of Palestine into two independent states - Jewish and Arab. It was Weizman, who insisted that Negev desert has to be the part of Israel.

"Old Doctor" – this way Haim was called by US President Harry Truman. He did not understand the Zionism, but meeting with Weizman changed all. Thus the United States became the first country to recognize the State of Israel, in fact - Truman has allocated $ 100 million loan to develop the economy of the new state.

Not surprisingly, in 1949, Hhaim Weizmann was invited to become the first president of Israel. He readily agreed, but did not expect that the post actually will be formal and real power will be managed in the hands of first Prime Minister - David Ben-Gurion. Then he sighed: "My handkerchief is the only place where I can poke my nose." But he remained in office until his death, working in parallel to create a research center, which now bears his name.

Friends, Haim Weizmann always believed that, despite the hostile environment, Israel will flourish. I'm sure the same fate isawaiting Ukraine, because the aggressor, who is near, will never be able to suppress the potential that is in the country.