US Vice President Joe Biden, with wife Dr. Jill Biden, lay a wreath at the tomb of
Theodor Herzl on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem within the framework of activities to mark
the 150th anniversary of the birth of Herzl. 

March 11, 2010 / 25 Adar 5770

US Vice President Joe Biden was the first visiting foreign dignitary to lay a wreath at the tomb of Theodor Herzl on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem within the framework of activities to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Herzl.

Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, visited Mt. Herzl on Tuesday March 9, 2010. They were accompanied by World Zionist Organization Executive member Adv. Hagai Meirom and Director of the Mount Herzl site Jacob Gispan.

The World Zionist Organization is responsible for the maintenance and development of Mt. Herzl and operates the adjacent Herzl Museum and educational center.

Merom gave Biden a copy of Herzl's book, Altneuland, a novel devoted to Zionism.
In response Biden said: "You don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist. I also see myself as a Zionist."

Biden said he grew up in a Christian home in which his father taught him about the values of the Jewish people and that they are entitled to their own country.  He said he participated in several meetings of the World Zionist Organization and assisted in raising funds for the organization. In the guest book near Herzl's grave, Biden wrote that he felt "profound respect for the man of vision."

On June 15, 2010, the 36th Zionist Congress of the World Zionist Organization will convene in Jerusalem, 113 years since the First Zionist Congress in 1897.