February 14: The First Knesset

The Israeli Knesset convened for the first time on this date in 1949 in the Jewish Agency building in Jerusalem. The date was Tu B’Shvat, the New Year of the Trees, and most of the 120 delegates participated in a tree-planting ritual that has become an integral part of the Knesset’s birthday celebration each year. “The Constituent Assembly,” as the legislative body was known, would name itself the Knesset two days later, when it also elected Chaim Weizmann as Israel’s first president. About 87 percent of half a million eligible voters participated in the election that sent delegates from twelve parties to the Knesset, including 46 for Labor, 19 for the United Workers, and 16 for the United Religious Front.

“After having participated in the great spiritual struggles of mankind, after having dedicated ourselves and shed our blood for the liberation of other nations, we have won the right to strive for our own national self-expression, and to make our contribution to the spiritual treasury of the whole world as a free and equal nation.” —Dr. Chaim Weizmann, addressing the First Knesset