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Norman Bentwich, 1883—1971

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Norman Bentwich, 1883—1971 Norman Bentwich, 1883-1971* HELEN BENTWICH Norman often said that if he had his life over He preferred his travels to be purposeful: an were on again, he would choose to be archaeologist. they mainly made behalf of the cause He had a deep interest in the past, and in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in the as history, not only of our own people but of all of the refugees, or, latterly, the Chairman of same him peoples and nations. At the time?which is the United Restitution Office. Not for the a rare?he was intensely aware of the world in relaxation of lying on sunny beaches; quick or which he lived, and greatly concerned for the dip in the sea, be it in the Mediterranean, the we betterment of mankind everywhere. 'Human English Channel at Sandwich, where had a a own?at rights' were almost passion with him, decades acquired cottage?which I still the before the Declaration of the United Nations. time of the Richborough Camp for refugees, war. I remember his efforts, just before the last war, before the last When I could persuade him a a to to obtain the release of small number of actually to take holiday abroad, Iran, prisoners in China, and this at a time when or Russia, to Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, his work on behalf of the victims of Nazi and when I drove him across Europe from to persecution led him to travel, sometimes at Greece to Holland, he always managed some even if it meant risk of personal danger, to Germany and find Jewish contact, saw one Austria. He never knew fear, and was as reck? wandering round the shops until he an a less in Palestine, after he was shot by Arab with Jewish name, when he would boldly as a in 1929, as he was in London, running in and walk in and announce himself fellow-Jew. out of the traffic. I once saw him knocked down a car in Avenue; as soon as he by Fitzjohn's Concern for Falashas had picked himself up, he apologised to the was woman driver for causing her inconvenience. Towards the end of his life, he deeply For he was invariably courteous. concerned about the Jewish tribe in Ethiopia, the Falashas. Nothing was too much trouble for him where were concerned. At the age Constant Traveller they of 87 he regretfully decided that, though he could are as a across tracks in a My happiest memories of him be driven incredibly difficult was too traveller. He enjoyed even the dreariest waits Land Rover to visit their villages, he to the at airports, where he would wander among the old to undertake the arduous journey see to them milling crowds, seeking friends or acquaint? Sudan border to the land allotted ances. He seldom failed to find someone he by the Emperor. time to write knew, or, by a chance remark, to make fresh Despite his travels, he found we articles on friends. Together travelled to forty-two some forty books and innumerable countries, and he went to a few more alone. an incredibly wide range of subjects formonthly a constant of He always travelled with the least amount of and weekly journals, besides flow luxury, generally making his way by public letters to The Times. was transport to the airport. He made less fuss about But above all, his greatest love Palestine or or he his frequent visits to Israel Germany, his (later Israel). From his home background a occasional trips to Ethiopia and America, than had early acquired passionate belief in a most men of his age made about travelling to Zionism. This led him to abandon promising an Brighton. He disliked luxury, or the spending career at the Bar, in England, to accept nearest of charitable funds unnecessarily. appointment in Egypt, the country to Palestine. While in he volun? * See the references to Professor and Mrs. there, 1915, two Bentwich in the Preface to this volume (p. xi). teered for the Camel Transport Corps: 191 Jewish Historical Society of England is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve, and extend access to Transactions & Miscellanies Jewish Historical Society of England ® www.jstor.org 192Helen Bentwich on a years later, with the rank of Major, his dream till he retired at the age of 68, part-time soon became reality. He was in Palestine, and basis. When he retired, he devoted much of transferred from his camels?even for them he his time to the British Friends of the Hebrew a had acquired a curious affection?to undertake University, fund-raising and propaganda legal work for the British, then the occupying organisation. never an Power. Later, he became the Attorney-General He was 'orthodox' Zionist, under the Mandatory Government, a post believing formany years in the binational State, a which he held until 1931, when, to his distress, and having deep sympathy with, and under? the British Colonial Office decided to dismiss standing of, the Arabs. And, once the State of came him (as a matter of principle, he refused to Israel into being, he did all he could to a resign) because it was declared that Jewish foster that understanding. He would have a Attorney-General was no longer acceptable liked the remark, made recently by Jewish to the Arabs. car-driver to a non-Jewish friend of ours: The establishment of a Hebrew University 'Bentwich was the man who loved both Jews in Jerusalem was one of his earliest dreams. He and Arabs.' was was present when the foundation stone of the Norman perennially young. 'Youth is a a state University was laid, on Mount Scopus, almost not time of life, it is of mind. Years to as soon as Jerusalem was conquered by the may wrinkle the skin, but give up enthusiasm This an British. Throughout his years in the Govern? wrinkles the soul.' quotation, from ment, he was a governor of the University, American writer, was found in his desk after life. and an ardent propagandist for the collection he died, and epitomises Norman's To have was a of funds. In 1932, he was appointed Burton been his companion for fifty-five years a Professor at the University, the subject being constant adventure, perennial renewing of the International Law of Peace, later just youth. International Relations. He held this post, .
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