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Herzl’s Grandparents to Be Reburied on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem
7/27/2026, 11:23:44 AM
Planned Transfer and State Ceremony
The remains of Shimon and Rivka Herzl, the grandparents of Theodor Herzl—the founder of modern political Zionism—are slated to be moved from Belgrade to Israel “in the coming days.” According to a report in *Israel Hayom*, the transfer will coincide with a state ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of Theodor Herzl’s own reburial on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to attend the formal funeral ceremony.
Historical Role of Shimon and Rivka Herzl
Rabbi Shimon Herzl, the only brother of Theodor’s father to remain faithful to Judaism, served as head of the Sephardic synagogue in Zemun and maintained a close relationship with Rabbi Yehuda Shlomo Alkalai, an early Zionist pioneer. Through visits to Budapest, Shimon shared Alkalai’s vision of a Jewish return to the ancestral land with his young grandson. These exchanges are credited with shaping Theodor Herzl’s attachment to Judaism and inspiring the ideas that later underpinned the modern Zionist movement. Rivka Herzl, his wife, also contributed to the familial environment that nurtured Herzl’s emerging national consciousness.
Official Statements & Responses
Israeli officials have framed the reburial as a symbolic act that honors the familial roots of Zionism. The presence of the president and prime minister underscores the state’s endorsement of the historical significance of the Herzl family’s legacy.
Significance of the Reburial
Reinterring Shimon and Rivka Herzl alongside their grandson on Mount Herzl links the personal lineage of Zionism’s founder with the national memorial site that bears his name. The ceremony highlights the continuity of Zionist ideals from early 19th-century religious advocacy to the establishment of the modern Jewish state, reinforcing collective memory of the movement’s origins.
