77 Years Later: Remains of Herzl's Grandparents on Their Way to Burial in Israel

The remains of Shimon Leib and Rivka Herzl, the grandparents of Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl, have been exhumed from the Jewish cemetery in Belgrade and will be transferred for a state burial in Israel. The ceremony is scheduled for August 5 in the presence of the Prime Minister and the President of the State. The event is seen as a historic closure, connecting the roots of Jewish tradition with the Zionist vision.

The remains of Shimon Leib and Rivka Herzl, the grandparents of Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl, have been exhumed from the Jewish cemetery in Zemun (Belgrade) and will be transferred for a state burial in Israel. The burial ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in the presence of the Prime Minister and the President of the State. The event is described as a historic tribute to the roots of Zionism: the grandfather, Shimon Leib Herzl, served as a "shofar blower" in the synagogue of Rabbi Yehuda Shlomo Alkalai, a forerunner of Zionism. Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, Yaakov Hagoel, said: "When Zion returns her sons, she also returns her fathers." Dr. Yizhar Hess noted that Herzl asked to be buried in the Land of Israel, and today his last wish is being fulfilled. Zvi Hassid, CEO of ZAKA, emphasized the combination of Israel's revival and the mitzvah of burial in the land. The remains will be interred in the Herzl family plot on Mount Herzl.