The Daniel Sieff Research Institute
In 1933 Daniel Sieff, the son of Israel and Rebecca Sieff and a promising young scientist, died
tragically at the age of 18. His father, co-founder of the UK-based
"Marks and Spencer" retail empire, was not only a prominent figure in the British
Jewish community but also a close friend of Chaim Weizmann's.
When Weizmann confided to his friend his intent to found an institute for advanced scientific
research in what was then the "British Mandate of Palestine", Israel Sieff
offered to underwrite the cost of its establishment with the assistance of his business and family
associates, the Marks and Sacher families. He asked that the new enterprise be named in
memory of his departed son, and the Daniel Sieff Research Institute
was dedicated on April 3, 1934.
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| The Daniel Sieff Research Institute |
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As scientists of Jewish background were forced to flee Germany because
of Nazi persecution, the Sieff Institute became a
haven for many of them. Research subjects at the fledgling Institute included
chemistry (particularly Organic Chemistry), biochemistry, and what
is best described as biotechnology-avant-la-lettre.
Scientific activity centered around areas of critical importance to the region's fledgling
economy, including the citrus industry, plant research, dairy
farming, and medicine.
Emphasis was divided between
fundamental theoretical studies, and the applied research
designed to meet the needs of the nation-to-be.
During World War II, the Institute was engaged in the production of
atabrine (an antimalarial drug) and of evipan (a barbiturate) for
the Allied medical corps. Chaim Weizmann himself was engaged in
research on synthetic rubber at this time.
With the establishment of the
State of Israel in 1948, the Zionist Organization of America
wished to offer a fitting tribute to Chaim Weizmann in honor of his
75th birthday. The ZOA employed the guise of a fund drive
toward the establishment of several additional buildings on the tiny campus, which were to
mark the beginning of the growth of the Institute into a full-fledged
research campus.
With the consent of the Sieff family, the expanding
complex was rededicated as the Weizmann Institute of Science
on November 2, 1949. Chaim Weizmann became its first director, a position he held
until his death on November 9, 1952 in Rehovot, the site of his magnificent dream.
