Johann Kremenezky

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Johann (Yona) Kremenezky
Born
Jonas Yosipovich Levinson

1850 (1850)
Odessa, Ukraine
Died25 October 1934(1934-10-25) (aged 83–84)
Burial placeVienna, Austria
NationalityAustro-Hungarian
Occupation(s)Electrical engineer, businessman
AwardsWilhelm Exner Medal 1930

Johann Kremenezky (also Kremenetski or Kremenetzky) (Hebrew: יונה קרמנצקי) February 15, 1850 – October 25, 1934,[1] was a Zionist industrialist, electrical engineer, founder of the Jewish National Fund, and personal secretary and adviser to Theodor Herzl.

Biography[edit]

Jonas Yosipovich Levinson (later Yona Kremenezky) was born in Odessa. He was the owner of Kremenezky, Mayer & Co, a noted electric lighting company in Vienna.[2] In the summer of 1896, Kremenezky met with Theodor Herzl, leader of the Zionist movement, to discuss the implementation of modern technology in the future Jewish state.[3]

Zionist activism[edit]

Kremenezky was the first chairman of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) from 1902 to 1907.[4] JNF's blue charity boxes were distributed by the JNF almost from its inception at the initiative of Kremenezky. Once found in many Jewish homes, the boxes became one of the most familiar symbols of Zionism.[5] Additionally he sold stamps to raise funds.[6]

Awards and recognition[edit]

Grave of Kremenezky
The blue Israeli street sign is in Hebrew. Translated to English it says: "Yonah Kremenetski, one of the first industrialists in Tel Aviv (1850–1936)."
Kremenetzki Street, Tel Aviv

In 1930, he was awarded the Wilhelm Exner Medal[7] On 20 June 1956 a street was named after him in Vienna, called Kremenetzkygasse.[8]

Streets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are named for him.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Obituaries in Neue Freie Presse
  2. ^ Consular reports, United States, Bureau of Foreign Commerce
  3. ^ Enduring technological optimism: Zionism's environmental ethic and its influence on Israel's environmental history
  4. ^ "Books of Honour". jnf.co.za. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  5. ^ The Forest's Many Shades of Green
  6. ^ "John Kremenezky and the Treasures of Zionist History". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  7. ^ Johann Kremenezky retrieved on 21. July 2020 in Wilhelmexner.org
  8. ^ "Kremenetzkygasse – Wien Geschichte Wiki". wien.gv.at (in German (formal address)). Retrieved 20 May 2018.

Further reading[edit]

  • Salomon Wininger: Große Jüdische National-Biographie ("Lexicon of Jewish National Biographies"). Vol. 4. Chernivtsi 1930.
  • Mascha Hoff: Johann Kremenezky und die Gründung des KKL. ("J. K. and the founding of the KKL"). Lang, Frankfurt/M. u. a. 1986, ISBN 3-8204-8773-5.
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