A specimen of a receipt for a donation of $50 to the Palestine Independence Fund of The American League for a Free Palestine founded by Hillel Kook. USA, [1945-1948].
At the center of the receipt, the figure of Michelangelo's King David and on its upper part, the Hebrew saying "If I am not for myself, then who will be for me"; stamped "Specimen". The receipt is signed in print by the chairmen of the fund, including Ben Hecht (the playwright of "A Flag is Born" which was meant to bring the struggle over the establishment of a Jewish state to the American public's attention). In the corner of the receipt, an "Israel Reborn" postage stamp is mounted.
On the receipt it is noted that "Neither the league as a whole, nor any of its members assumes the obligation to repay the above sum… however bind themselves to endeavor to the outmost of their ability to induce the government of free Palestine when formed to honor with gratitude its moral obligation by paying the owner, his heirs or his executors the face sum".
The Palestine Independence Fund of The American League for a Free Palestine was founded by Hillel Kook, the representative of the Revisionist Movement in the USA, who acted under the alias of Pitter H. Bergson. Kook arrived in the USA in 1940 and established several organizations by means of which he raised funds, bought weapons and paved the way for establishing a Jewish state.
16.5x23.5 cm. Good condition. Traces of tape in the margins. Pen writing in the corner.
Provenance: The Rimon Family Collection.