Golda Myerson Lauds U.S. Jews; Mrs. Roosevelt Honored

Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt was presented tonight with a gold plaque in the form of a map of Israel, after addressing 500 Jewish leaders at a dinner meeting in the Waldorf-Astoria in honor of Mrs. Golda Myerson, Israel Minister of Labor. Mrs. Roosevelt delivered her first report on her recent visit to Israel at the dinner, which was sponsored by the Israel Bond drive. (Mrs. Roosevelt had not delivered her address when the Bulletin went to press.)

Mrs. Myerson, who has just returned from a tour of key American cities in behalf of the Israel Bond drive, declared that “through their response, American Jews are hastening the day when Israel will be truly independent–independent of need, independent of fear, independent to give every Jew everywhere the moral and spiritual strength to serve mankind on the highest level of human endeavor.”

Henry Morgenthau, Jr., chairman of the board of governors of the American Financial and Development Corporation for Israel, which directs the sale of Israel bonds in the United States, presided at the dinner. He presented Mrs. Roosevelt with the plaque which bore the following inscription:

“In tribute to Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, symbol of the noblest that is America. Dedicated to the preservation of the rights of all, she has enriched mankind through her leadership in the United States and the United Nations. For Israel, her constant understanding and generous sympathy have been a tower of strength. Her concern that Israel should attain independence helped establish the State. On her return from her visit to Israel, this expression of tribute welcomes her participation in the dinner honoring Golda Myerson, Minister of Labor of Israel, marking a milestone in the progress of the State of Israel Bond Issue, keystone for the economic independence of Israel.”

The plaque was signed by Mr. Morgenthau, Rudolf G. Sonneborn, president of the American Financial and Development Corporation for Israel; Julian B. Venezky, chairman of the executive committee of the Corporation, and Henry Montor, vice-president of the Corporation.

Reporting that Israel is now at an economic turning point, Mrs. Myerson said: “All our own sacrifices combined with all the various sources of outside funds made available to us are not enough. I must tell you that everything that we fought for not so long ago, everything that many of our young men and women died for, depends on a speedy and massive response of the Jews in America to the Israel Bond drive. But I have no fear. I know the people of Israel are determined to make the necessary sacrifices. And I am convinced that the American Jews will not fail us.”