Lithographed Postcard Written and Signed by Leo Motzkin – Sent to His Fiancée During His Visit to Port Said (Egypt). Mailed from Port Said to Berlin on June 13, 1898.
Alongside lithographs depicting the landscapes of Port Said, Motzkin wrote:
Дорогая!
Такого неба не видал еще во всю мою жизнь.
Так часто приходится поражаться.
Вновь горит маяк,
и свет идёт чудно сквозь туман.
Мы скоро будем видеть ещё более чудесные страны.
Пиши скорее, целую, твой Лев.
Dearest,
I have never seen skies like these in my life.
So often, I find myself in renewed astonishment.
The lighthouse is once again lit,
and its light pierces through the fog in a wondrous way.
Soon, we shall reach lands even more marvelous.
Write to me soon.
Yours,
Leo.
In 1898, Leo Motzkin passed through Port Said, Egypt, on his way to Eretz Israel. His journey was likely related to Herzl’s historic visit to the Land of Israel in October 1898, which was part of his diplomatic efforts to advance the Zionist cause. Port Said served as a major port and transit hub for European travelers heading to Eretz Israel, especially at a time when sea voyages were the primary means of reaching the shores of Jaffa or Haifa.
Leo (Yehuda Aryeh Leib) Motzkin (1867–1933) A native of Ukraine (then part of the Russian Empire), Motzkin was one of the founding figures of Zionism and a key initiator of the Zionist Congress. He was among the architects of the Basel Program and helped organize the First Zionist Congress in 1897. He later became the second chairman of the Zionist Executive Committee and was a dedicated advocate for Jewish national rights. Most of his life was spent in Germany, where he pursued studies in mathematics and philosophy.
Very good condition.
