Alexander Eig
Encyclopedia
Alexander Eig was a botanist, one of the first plant researchers in Israel, head of the department of Botany
at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and co-founder of the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
on Mount Scopus
.
" agricultural school.
In 1925 he was invited by Otto Warburg
to join the agricultural experimental station in Tel Aviv, where he worked with Michael Zohary
. A year later, the unit moved to Jerusalem, and they joined the staff of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In that year he married Itta Faktorovsky, the sister of his closest friend and fellow botanist Elazar Faktorovsky.
On 1931 he graduated with his Ph.D., and founded the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
on Mount Scopus, together with Zohary and Naomi Feinbron. On 1932 he started teaching botany
. Among his students were the brothers Aaron
and Ephraim Katzir
.
On 1937 he was invited by Yitzhak Ben-Zvi
to testify before the Peel Commission
, on the question of whether the country could sustain a large population. He was later asked to prepare a map that would serve the arguments of the Zionist side in the international arena.
Eig died of cancer
in 1938, at the age of less than 44 years. He was buried in the cemetery on the Mount of Olives;his gravestone bears the inscription "The creator of plant science in Israel." He was eulogized by Moshe Sharett
, Hugo Bergmann
, Judah Leon Magnes
and Yitzhak Ben-Zvi
.
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and co-founder of the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens is located in the neighborhood of Nayot in Jerusalem, on the southeastern edge of the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
on Mount Scopus
Mount Scopus
Mount Scopus , جبل المشهد , جبل الصوانة) is a mountain in northeast Jerusalem. In the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Mount Scopus became a UN protected Jewish exclave within Jordanian-occupied territory until the Six-Day War in 1967...
.
Life
Born in Schedrin near Minsk, he used to wander in the forests and to join his family on hunting and fishing expeditions observing the plants around. At the age of 15 he immigrated to Palestine, where he became a student in "Mikveh IsraelMikveh Israel
The name Mikveh Israel may refer to:* Mikveh Israel, agricultural school and village in Israel* Congregation Mikveh Israel, Philadelphia, United States* Congregation Mickve Israel, Savannah, Georgia, United States...
" agricultural school.
In 1925 he was invited by Otto Warburg
Otto Warburg (botanist)
Otto Warburg , was a German botanist and industrial agriculture expert, as well as an active member of the Zionist Organization...
to join the agricultural experimental station in Tel Aviv, where he worked with Michael Zohary
Michael Zohary
Michael Zohary was a pioneering Israeli botanist.-Biography:...
. A year later, the unit moved to Jerusalem, and they joined the staff of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In that year he married Itta Faktorovsky, the sister of his closest friend and fellow botanist Elazar Faktorovsky.
On 1931 he graduated with his Ph.D., and founded the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens is located in the neighborhood of Nayot in Jerusalem, on the southeastern edge of the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
on Mount Scopus, together with Zohary and Naomi Feinbron. On 1932 he started teaching botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
. Among his students were the brothers Aaron
Aharon Katzir
Aharon Katzir was an Israeli pioneer in the study of the electrochemistry of biopolymers. He was killed in the Lod Airport Massacre in 1972.-Biography:...
and Ephraim Katzir
Ephraim Katzir
Ephraim Katzir was an Israeli biophysicist and former Israeli Labor Party politician. He was the fourth President of Israel from 1973 until 1978.-Biography:...
.
On 1937 he was invited by Yitzhak Ben-Zvi
Yitzhak Ben-Zvi
Yitzhak Ben-Zvi was a historian, Labor Zionist leader, the second and longest-serving President of Israel.-Biography:...
to testify before the Peel Commission
Peel Commission
The Peel Commission of 1936-1937, formally known as the Palestine Royal Commission, was a British Royal Commission of Inquiry set out to propose changes to the British Mandate of Palestine following the outbreak of the 1936-1939 Arab revolt in Palestine...
, on the question of whether the country could sustain a large population. He was later asked to prepare a map that would serve the arguments of the Zionist side in the international arena.
Eig died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1938, at the age of less than 44 years. He was buried in the cemetery on the Mount of Olives;his gravestone bears the inscription "The creator of plant science in Israel." He was eulogized by Moshe Sharett
Moshe Sharett
Moshe Sharett on 15 October 1894, died 7 July 1965) was the second Prime Minister of Israel , serving for a little under two years between David Ben-Gurion's two terms.-Early life:...
, Hugo Bergmann
Hugo Bergmann
Samuel Hugo Bergman, or Samuel Bergman was a German and Israeli Jewish philosopher.-Biography:...
, Judah Leon Magnes
Judah Leon Magnes
Judah Leon Magnes was a prominent Reform rabbi in both the United States and Palestine. He is best remembered as a leader pacifist movement of the World War I period and as one of the most widely recognized voices of 20th Century American Reform Judaism.-Biography:He was born in San Francisco,...
and Yitzhak Ben-Zvi
Yitzhak Ben-Zvi
Yitzhak Ben-Zvi was a historian, Labor Zionist leader, the second and longest-serving President of Israel.-Biography:...
.
Plants
- Bellevalia eigii
- Salvia eigiiSalvia eigiiSalvia eigii is a herbaceous perennial native to Israel. The plant grows in a clump 30 cm high by 60 cm wide, with dark green leaves, the largest of which grow up to 30 cm long and 20 cm wide. The flower stalk grows up to 1 m high, with several 20-30 cm inflorescences which hold flowers growing in...
- Eigia longistyla
- Ornithogalum neurostegium subsp. eigii (Feinbrun) Feinbrun