- Vitkin, Joseph
- (1876–1912)Zionist labour pioneer. Vitkin emigrated to Palestine from Russia in 1897. He is chiefly known as one of the first Labour Zionists, and the principal author of a pamphlet entitled, ‘A Call to the Youth of Israel’, which appeared in 1905 and demanded personal aliyah. He supported the campaign to make Jewish farmowners employ Jewish rather than Arab labour and, going further, was one of the first to advocate that Jewish worker-pioneers should themselves found new agricultural settlements. Vitkin soon left agricultural work and for most of his working life was a school teacher and educator. The village of Kfar Vitkin on the coastal plain was named after him. VOGEL, Sir Julius 1835–99. New Zealand prime minister. Lured by the discovery of gold, Vogel left London for Australia at the age of seventeen. Having failed to strike it rich, he settled in New Zealand where he pioneered the first daily newspaper, the Otago Daily Times. Short and squat, with a huge black beard, he was an odd figure in the colony. But his strong character and financial acumen brought him to the top in political life. He served as prime minister in 1873–5 and again in 1876, and as colonial treasurer in 1869 and 1884. He was successful in negotiating British loans for New Zealand and occupied the coveted post of agent-general in London from 1876 to 1881. He was knighted in 1875.
Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament. Joan Comay . 2012.