February 1, 1974

Professor Gershom Scholem

Chairman

The Rothchild Prizes Organization in @srael
1 King David Avenue

Tel-Aviv 64953 ISRAEL

Deer Dr. Scholen,

I am responding to your letter dated January 10th which arrived
here on the 21st relative to the reconmendations for a Rothchild Prize
in the Biological Sciences. It would take the wisdom of Solomon to choeee
strictly on the basis of scientific merit between the works of these
two men. They are both of the highest caliber and certainly Israel can
be proud equally of both of them. Sachs’ current work on the alteration
of cell surfaces in connection with the cancer change is attracting attention
throughout the world. This is reflected in many of his papers but I recall
particularly item #148 in the bibliography that you sent to me. He has had
a number of colleagues working with him tohrough the years on this and
closely related problems, and there can be no question of his personal
role in this line of research regardless of the names of coworkers who
have collaborated with him. Professor Feldman is also globally recognized
for his studies on the cellular basis of immunity. Paper #101 and #105
are representative of these contributions. I would have little doubt
that within a short passage of years both of these men would qualify as
representing Israel's outstanding biologists. This somewhat mitigates the
complexity of my task since I respond in the spirit that it is only a question
of relative timing. a
In the circumstances the best advice that I can give you is perhaps meta-
scientific rather than directed to the merits of their actual research.
Feldman is, I believe, already very well known to the literate public in
Israel in consequence of his outstanding activities in public education and
in educational administration in addition to his laboratory work. Sachs has
spent more time traveling to different laboratories in countries outside of
Israel and may be slightly better known to the international community, but
I believe that hk name is relatively unknown within Israel. To the extent
that an award of the Rothchild Prize has among its consequences some further
public recognition ,vithin the nation, there may be some argument for a
restoration of parkth. ta that context by an earlier award to Sachs. However,
you may be able to find better judgments about the validity of these premises
than I can offer and if I am mistaken then obviously my conclusions must fail.

I do not believe that my efforts deserve the referal fee mentioned in
your post-script but I would be quite happy if the sum mentioned were credited
directly to the account of the war casualtgy fund of the Weizmann Institete.

 
Professor G,. Scholem -~ 2+ 2/1/74

P.8.

JL/rr

Marguerite and I were sorry to have missed you during your somewhat
recent visit to this area but hope we may have a chanve to rectify

a lost opportunity. Our plans for revisiting Israel are momentarily
tempered by a forthcoming expected event (early May) but perhaps by
some months after that a larger number of us may have the opportunity
of visiting you again in Jerusalem.

I have to say that I have also been delighted to have the close
connection here with both Elkanas during their visit to California.

Sincerely yours,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics