Asher Anshel Daskal: Difference between revisions

Asher Anshel Daskal
Asher Anshel Daskal
Born	April 18, 1908; Moisei, Austria-Hungary
Died	July 6, 1990 (aged 82)
Occupation	Diamantaire & Diamond dealer
Years active	1937–1988

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Asher Anshel Daskal (April 18, 1908 – July 6, 1990) was a founder and a pioneer of the Israeli diamond industry. Daskal founded the first diamond plant in the land of Israel in Petah Tikva with his cousin Zvi Rosenberg. ^[1]

Biography

Early life

Asher Anshel Daskal was born in Moisei, a small village in the Maramureș county in north Romania. Daskal was born to an Orthodox Jewish family from the Wiznitz Hasidic community. He studied in a Yeshiva and helped at home with the live stock. In 1927 at the age of 19, Anshel didn't see a future for himself as a shepherd or as a Hasidic scholar and decided to relocate to Antwerp Belgium.

In Belgium, with the help and support of his relatives he started to work as an apprentice for a diamond cutter and later on he learned how to polish and how to cleave. The first few months were tough. He lived from hand to mouth, but soon enough he was seen to be a gifted cutter and consequently quickly climbed up the diamond cutter social ladder making a name for himself amongst the Antwerp diamond community.

The Zionist Dream

Anshel was a Zionist. His dream was that of immigrating to the Land of Israel. In 1932 after saving enough money, he bought a ticket and sailed to British Mandate Palestine as a tourist, to visit the first Maccabiah Games (the Jewish Olympics). In addition, Daskal went on a tour to explore the country. It was the Holy Land visit that spiked his idea to found and establish a diamond Industry in the Land of Israel. In 1934, he shared this idea with his cousin Zvi Rosenberg but Zvi was already preparing for his own immigration journey to the land of Israel, alongside his wife and three children and didn’t want to wait for Anshel.

In 1935, Daskal returned as a tourist to the Land of Israel. He bought a piece of land near the town of Qalqilya that had been designated to be agricultural land. When he returned in 1936, he was told that the county plans for that community had not been approved. Disappointed by the sad turn of events, he sold his land and returned to Antwerp. In Antwerp, Daskal joined a cooperative that intended to found an Israeli diamond industry in the Holy Land, but as he didn't approve of their business plans and quit. The cooperative disbanded shortly afterward.

Daskal purchased diamond manufacturing equipment, learned how to operate and maintain them all, in order to found his very own Diamond Plant in the Land of Israel.

Immigration to Israel

In 1937 Daskal finalized all immigration procedures for himself and family. He boarded the ship with his wife Miriam, his Baby girl and his diamond manufacturing equipment with final destination Land of Israel.

Upon arriving to his cousin's house, Zvi Rosenberg in Petah Tikva, together they founded the first diamond plant in the country. Most of Daskal and Rosenberg's students/apprentices and employees became leading figures in the Diamond industry. In 1939 The cousins were offered by Oved Ben-Ami Netanya city mayor, to relocate to his town and establish new diamond plants. They were getting ready to open their first factory Ofir but last minute Anshel backed up from their partnership and later that year he founded Even Hayesod plant in Netanya. At the peak of this plant he had 200 employees. After World War II ended there was a big crisis in the diamond industry and in 1946 Daskal closed his plant. 1948 and the following years he founded plants in Bnei Brak, Jerusalem Kiriat Malachi and Ashkelon. ^[2]

The first diamond

Daskal cut and polished the first diamond at the first diamond plant in Israel in Petah Tikva. He kept that very first diamond in his vault for nearly 50 years. In 1986 Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum was opened at the Israel Diamond Exchange center. Anshel lent that very first diamond to the museum for a display. The first diamond was on display for a few years and was known as being "Daskal's diamond". With the museum closing the diamond was returned to Anshel's family in 2021.

Awards and recognition

In 1988 Asher Anshel Daskal received the Dignitary award from the Israel Diamond Manufacturers' Association in their first award ceremony and was invited to the second one in 1989. In 1989 Daskal received the founders awards from the Israel Diamond Exchange. The award was presented to him by Moshe Schnitzer the Israel Diamond Exchange President (1967-1993). ^[3]

On July 6, 1990, Asher Anshel Daskal died, at the age of 82.

In 2020 to commemorate Anshel’s legacy a TV script for a limited series was written based on his life by his grand daughter Nurit Asher Vagner and her son Itai Adam Vagner. The script is currently in development and in review at US and EU production companies. The script won several finalist awards in US scripts competition. In late 2020 producer Nicole Starrett from Jubilee production (Los Angeles) came on board to help develop the project

June 30th 2022 was a commemoration ceremony for Daskal at the Israeli Diamond Exchange center where they dedicated the weigh room in the main trade hall to his name.

References

^ Israeli diamond industry website-History (3rd paragraph)6
^ Israel Diamond Magazine international edition May-June 1986, p.5,6 Spotlight 3
^ Israel diamond manufacturers Dignitary award - 1988 brochure archives Shira Ami

External links

[1] Israeli diamond industry website-History (3rd paragraph)6

[2] Israel Diamond Magazine international edition May-June 1986, p.5,6 Spotlight 3

[3] Israel diamond manufacturers Dignitary award - 1988 brochure archives Shira Ami

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Inline citations|date=October 2023}}{{Short description|Israeli businessman (1908–1990)}}
+{{Infobox person
+| name               = Asher Anshel Daskal
+| birth_date         = April 18, 1908
+| birth_place        = [[Moisei]], [[Austria-Hungary]]
+| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1990|07|06|1908|04|18}}
+| occupation         = [[Diamantaire]] & Diamond dealer
+| years_active       = 1937–1988
+}}
 '''Asher Anshel Daskal''' (April 18, 1908 – July 6, 1990) was a founder and a pioneer of the Israeli diamond industry. Daskal founded the first [[diamond]] plant in the land of Israel in [[Petah Tikva]] with his cousin Zvi Rosenberg. <ref>Israeli diamond industry website-History (3rd paragraph)6</ref>
@@ Line 4: / Line 13: @@
 ==Biography==
 ===Early life===
-Asher Anshel Daskal was born in [[Moisei]], a small village in the [[Maramureș]] county in north [[Romania]]. Daskal was born to an Orthodox Jewish family from the Wiznitz Hasidic community. He studied in a Yeshiva and helped at home with the live stock. In 1927 at the age of 19, Anshel didn't see a future for himself as a shepherd or a Hasidic scholar and decided to relocate to [[Antwerp]] [[Belgium]].
+Asher Anshel Daskal was born in [[Moisei]], a small village in the [[Maramureș]] county in north [[Romania]]. Daskal was born to an Orthodox Jewish family from the [[Wiznitz]] Hasidic community. He studied in a Yeshiva and helped at home with the live stock. In 1927 at the age of 19, Anshel didn't see a future for himself as a shepherd or as a Hasidic scholar and decided to relocate to [[Antwerp]] [[Belgium]].
-In [[Belgium]], with the help and support of his relatives he started as an apprentice for a diamond cutter and later learned to polish and cleave.  The first few months were tough and he lived from hand to mouth, but soon enough he was recognized as a gifted cutter and quickly climbed up the ladder and made a name for himself in the [[Antwerp]] diamond community.
+In [[Belgium]], with the help and support of his relatives he started to work as an apprentice for a diamond cutter and later on he learned how to polish and how to cleave. The first few months were tough. He lived from hand to mouth, but soon enough he was seen to be a gifted cutter and consequently quickly climbed up the diamond cutter social ladder making a name for himself amongst the [[Antwerp]] diamond community.
 ===The Zionist Dream===
-Anshel was a Zionist and his dream was to immigrate to the [[Land of Israel]]. In 1932 he saved his money and bought a ticket to sail to [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate Palestine]] as a tourist, to visit the first [[Maccabiah Games]] (the Jewish Olympics). In addition, Daskal took a tour to explore the country. The visit in the [[Holy Land]] spiked his idea to found and establish a Diamond Industry in the [[Land of Israel]]. In 1934, he shared his idea with his cousin Zvi Rosenberg but Zvi was already preparing for his own immigration alongside his wife and three children and did not want to wait for Anshel.
+Anshel was a Zionist. His dream was that of immigrating to the [[Land of Israel]]. In 1932 after saving enough money, he bought a ticket and sailed to [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate Palestine]] as a tourist, to visit the first [[Maccabiah Games]] (the Jewish Olympics). In addition, Daskal went on a tour to explore the country. It was the [[Holy Land]] visit that spiked his idea to found and establish a diamond Industry in the [[Land of Israel]]. In 1934, he shared this idea with his cousin Zvi Rosenberg but Zvi was already preparing for his own immigration journey to the [[land of Israel]], alongside his wife and three children and didn’t want to wait for Anshel.
-In 1935 Daskal arrived again as a tourist to the [[Land of Israel]] and bought a piece of land near the town of Kalkilia that was designed to become an agriculture community. upon his return to yet another visit in 1936 he realized that the plans for that community were not approved. Disappointed from the turn of events, he sold the land and returned to [[Antwerp]]. In Antwerp Daskal joined a cooperative that intended to found an Israeli Diamond industry but he didn't approve their plans and quit. The cooperative disbanded shortly afterward.
+In 1935, Daskal returned as a tourist to the [[Land of Israel]]. He bought a piece of land near the town of Qalqilya that had been designated to be agricultural land. When he returned in 1936, he was told that the county plans for that community had not been approved. Disappointed by the sad turn of events, he sold his land and returned to [[Antwerp]]. In Antwerp, Daskal joined a cooperative that intended to found an Israeli diamond industry in the [[Holy Land]], but as he didn't approve of their business plans and quit. The cooperative disbanded shortly afterward.
-Daskal purchased Diamond manufacturing equipment, and learned how to operate and maintain all of them, in order to found his own Diamond Plant in the [[Land of Israel]].
+Daskal purchased diamond manufacturing equipment, learned how to operate and maintain them all, in order to found his very own Diamond Plant in the [[Land of Israel]].
 ===Immigration to Israel===
-In 1937 Daskal managed to accomplish the immigration certificates for himself and his family and board the ship with his wife Miriam, his Baby girl and his diamond manufacturing equipment to the Land of Israel.
+In 1937 Daskal finalized all immigration procedures for himself and family. He boarded the ship with his wife Miriam, his Baby girl and his diamond manufacturing equipment with final destination [[Land of Israel]].
-Upon his arrival to Zvi Rosenberg's (his cousin) house in [[Petah Tikva]], they founded the first Diamond plant in the country. Most of their students/apprentices became leading figures in the Diamond industry. In 1939 he founded Even Hayesod plant in Netanya and at the peak of this plant he had 200 employees. Over the years he founded plants in [[Bnei Brak]], [[Jerusalem]] Kiriat Malachi and [[Ashkelon]]. <ref>Israel Diamond Magazine international edition May-June 1986, p.5,6 ''Spotlight'' 3</ref>
+Upon arriving to his cousin's house, Zvi Rosenberg in [[Petah Tikva]], together they founded the first diamond plant in the country. Most of Daskal and Rosenberg's students/apprentices and employees became leading figures in the Diamond industry.
+In 1939 The cousins were offered by [[Oved Ben-Ami]] [[Netanya]] city mayor, to relocate to his town and establish new diamond plants. They were getting ready to open their first factory Ofir but last minute Anshel backed up from their partnership and later that year he founded Even Hayesod plant in Netanya. At the peak of this plant he had 200 employees. After [[World War II]] ended there was a big crisis in the diamond industry and in 1946 Daskal closed his plant.
+and the following years he founded plants in [[Bnei Brak]], [[Jerusalem]] Kiriat Malachi and [[Ashkelon]]. <ref>Israel Diamond Magazine international edition May-June 1986, p.5,6 ''Spotlight'' 3</ref>
 ==The first diamond==
+Daskal cut and polished the first diamond at the first diamond plant in Israel in Petah Tikva.
-In 1986 with the opening of the [[Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum]] at the [[Israel Diamond Exchange]] center, Anshel lent the museum the first diamond he manufactured at the first plant in Israel. He kept that diamond in his vault for nearly 50 years and the museum was on display for a few years and was known as "Daskal's diamond". This first diamond that was cut and polished by Anshel Daskal at the first diamond plant in Israel was finally returned to Anshel's family in 2021.
+He kept that very first diamond in his vault for nearly 50 years.
+In 1986 [[Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum]] was opened at the [[Israel Diamond Exchange]] center. Anshel lent that very first diamond to the museum for a display. The first diamond was on display for a few years and was known as being "Daskal's diamond". With the museum closing the diamond was returned to Anshel's family in 2021.
 ==Awards and recognition==
-In 1988 Asher Anshel Daskal received the Dignitary award from the Israel Diamond Manufacturers' Association in their first award ceremony and was invited to the second one in 1989. In 1989 Daskal received the founders awards from the [[Israel Diamond Exchange]] awarded to him by [[Moshe Schnitzer]] the Israel Diamond Exchange President (1967-1993). <ref>Israel diamond manufacturers Dignitary award - 1988 brochure archives Shira Ami</ref>
+In 1988 Asher Anshel Daskal received the Dignitary award from the Israel Diamond Manufacturers' Association in their first award ceremony and was invited to the second one in 1989. In 1989 Daskal received the founders awards from the [[Israel Diamond Exchange]]. The award was presented to him by [[Moshe Schnitzer]] the Israel Diamond Exchange President (1967-1993). <ref>Israel diamond manufacturers Dignitary award - 1988 brochure archives Shira Ami</ref>
-On July 6, 1990, Asher Anshel Daskal died, aged 82.
+On July 6, 1990, Asher Anshel Daskal died, at the age of 82.
+In 2020 to commemorate Anshel’s legacy a TV script for a limited series was written based on his life by his grand daughter Nurit Asher Vagner and her son Itai Adam Vagner.
+The script is currently in development and in review at US and EU production companies.
+The script won several finalist awards in US scripts competition. In late 2020 producer Nicole Starrett from Jubilee production (Los Angeles) came on board to help develop the project
+June 30th 2022 was a commemoration ceremony for Daskal at the Israeli Diamond Exchange center where they dedicated the weigh room in the main trade hall to his name.
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
+==External links==
 *[https://en.israelidiamond.co.il/history-israeli-diamond-industry/1939-דסקל-רוזנברג-מלטשת-היהלומים-copy/ Photo Anshel Daskal on the right, Zvi Rosenberg on the left in front of their first factory in Petah Tikva]
 *[https://en.israelidiamond.co.il/history-diamond-industry-30s/ The 30’s At The Israeli Diamond Industry (photo)Anshel Daskal on the right]
 *[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Go-rQpAP2OD7Ac3rl_SFmdRhwGH4fCDI/view Israel Diamonds Magazine international edition (93) May-June 1986 Diamond]
-*[ https://www.berghahnbooks.com/downloads/OpenAccess/DeVriesDiamonds/9781789201178_OA.pdf Diamonds and Wars by David De Vries pages:22,31,48, 191,259,270,273,292,302]
+*[https://www.berghahnbooks.com/downloads/OpenAccess/DeVriesDiamonds/9781789201178_OA.pdf Diamonds and Wars by David De Vries pages:22,31,48, 191,259,270,273,292,302]
 *[https://www.amirorg.co.il/אשר-אנשל-דסקל/ Amir Romanian Jews descendants organization - Anshel Daskal commemoration page]
 *[https://en.israelidiamond.co.il/wikidiamond/diamond-industry-figures/oved-ben-ami/ Israeli diamond industry website-History (3rd paragraph)]
+*[https://filmfreeway.com/ANSHEL/ Film Freeway ANSHEL script page]
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Daskal, Asher Anshel}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Diamond industry in Israel]]
 [[Category:Diamond dealers]]
 [[Category:1908 births]]
 [[Category:1990 deaths]]
+[[Category:Romanian emigrants to Belgium]]
+[[Category:Belgian emigrants to Mandatory Palestine]]
+[[Category:Romanian Jews in Israel]]