Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić spoke at a ceremony in Belgrade transferring the remains of Shimon and Rivka Herzl, grandparents of Theodor Herzl, to Israel. The coffins are to be flown to Jerusalem immediately, concluding four years of diplomatic and halakhic efforts, according to Israel Hayom journalist Ariel Kahana.
Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić presided over a ceremony Thursday evening at Belgrade's airport to transfer the remains of Shimon and Rivka Herzl, the grandparents of Zionist visionary Theodor Herzl, to Israel. The coffins are expected to depart for Jerusalem immediately, concluding four years of diplomatic and halakhic efforts to reunite the Herzl family at Mount Herzl.
The ceremony came one day after the remains were exhumed from the Jewish cemetery in Zemun, Belgrade, on Wednesday, July 29. The World Zionist Organization, which led the initiative, confirmed that the reburial will take place at Mount Herzl on August 5 in a state ceremony, with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expected to attend.
As The Zioneer reported on Wednesday, the exhumation was carried out by a ZAKA special missions unit on behalf of the WZO. WZO chairman Yaakov Hagoel said at the time: 'Zion returns its sons to her.' The transfer ceremony was first reported by Israel Hayom journalist Ariel Kahana.
Đurić said in remarks at the ceremony: 'This is a great day for the Jewish people and a special day for relations between Israel and Serbia. In these difficult times, the Jewish people have friends here in Belgrade and Serbia.'
The state reburial ceremony at Mount Herzl is scheduled for August 5. The remains are expected to be flown to Jerusalem overnight.
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