Levy Named Coordinator Presidents’ Conference Starts Plans for Israel’s 35th Anniversary in U.S.

Jacob Stein, chairman of the American Committee for Israel’s 25th anniversary celebration, announced today the appointment of Raphael Levy, director of special services for the United Jewish Appeal, as coordinator for the observance plans. Levy is on loan from the UJA to serve as coordinator.

The anniversary committee, now in formation under the aegis of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and other groups, will coordinate the nation-wide observance of the anniversary, scheduled to start this fall, Stein said. The celebrations will reach their peak on the anniversary date, the fifth day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, which next year falls on May 7. Stein, who is chairman of the Presidents’ Conference, said that, through the celebrations “which will take place in hundreds of communities across the country, we desire to salute Israel for its inspiring attainments in the arts, sciences, social problems and for its contributions to the advancement of human freedom.” He said that in the observances, American Jews would “recall the outstanding contributions made by the American government, the American Jewish community and the American people as a whole to Israel’s outstanding progress as a vital democratic state.”