Word: knesset
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...Ezra and Nehemiah, more than two thousand years ago, the Jews had had their Knesset Hagdola (Great Assembly). The members of its soth Century successor decided also to call it the Knesset. But what should they call themselves? Should they use the ancient word ish (man)? A spokesman for the orthodox Jews objected: "Let's leave that alone until we restore our past glories." They finally chose the word haver, which is colloquial Hebrew...
Three days later, the Knesset elected Chaim Weizmann Israel's first President (so far, his office has been provisional). He was given a ten-inch silver key to the city and a pair of 17th Century scissors to cut the ceremonial ribbon across the road leading to Jerusalem. For Weizmann, as for his Zionists, it had been a long road...