Conveyed with Pleasure

November 2 1917 – 17 Marheshvan 5678

Arthur Balfour, the British Minister for Foreign Affairs, sent Lord Rothschild a letter of support for the Zionist cause. This letter, later known as the Balfour Declaration, helped create an international political platform for the aspirations of the Young Zionist Organization. Balfour writes: “I have much pleasure in conveying to you on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet.” Although His Majesty’s Government saw favorably the “establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”, it was made clear that “nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine”.