A groundswell of support for Israel’s defense against the attack by Egyptian and Syrian armed forces on Yom Kippur was expressed by Jewish and non-Jewish leaders throughout the world. The theme running through all the messages and statements was that the two Arab countries had crossed the cease-fire lines in an unprovoked and premeditated assault on the Jewish state.
At the same time, huge rallies continued in various major cities where waves upon waves of demonstrators expressed their solidarity with Israel. In many cities, too, police authorities took extra precautions to guard Israeli and Jewish and Arab installations against attacks.
Throughout the United States there were reports of unprecedented responses today and yesterday as donations poured in to meet the call for $100 million in cash in the next few days. Switchboards were jammed in the offices of the United Jewish Appeal and Israel Bond Organization almost around the clock. A UJA spokesman said donations were pouring into the national office at a greater rate than expected. He termed the response unprecedented. A Bonds spokesman termed the response fantastic.
WARNING AGAINST UNAUTHORIZED FUND-RAISING
Meanwhile, a warning against giving to unauthorized fund-raising efforts for Israel being conducted on the streets of New York was issued by the National Committee on Control and Authorization of Campaigns of the Jewish Agency for Israel by its co-chairmen, Mrs. Charlotte Jacobson and Jack Weiler.
“Our committee,” they said, “is receiving information at its headquarters at 515 Park Avenue of such unauthorized campaigns. We want to warn the Jewish public that street collections by individuals and by organizations have not been authorized or sanctioned by our committee or any authorized body. We urge those who seek to aid Israel by immediate cash gifts to channel them through the United Jewish Appeal. We stress the importance and high priority for the emergency cash collection campaign of the UJA and urge the Jewish community to give all-out support for this high priority effort.”
SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL EXPRESSED BY THOUSANDS
Throughout this country and abroad Jews and non-Jews continued to express solidarity with the Jewish state. The Jewish communities of Denmark and Sweden have rallied massively in support of Israel. Thousands of Danish and Swedish Kroners have been flowing into special funds established throughout the two countries. Many Danish citizens and soldiers have been coming to the Israeli Embassy offering to serve as volunteers. Israeli citizens have been trying to get back home to join the fighting.
In Brussels a delegation of 45 representatives of the Belgian Jewish community and the rabbinical corps went to the Israeli Embassy to “express its identification with Israel” and its “unconditional support.” More than 500 Belgian Jews have volunteered for the Israeli army. joined by some non-Jews. Blood transfusion centers have been opened in Brussels and Antwerp. The Israeli Embassy has received many messages of sympathy from Belgian and foreign personalities, including several members of Parliament.
In Amsterdam the three Dutch trade union organizations expressed their solidarity with Israel as they welcomed the European representative of the Histadrut. More than 2000 persons attended a solidarity meeting with Israel at the Jewish Cultural Center which was addressed by Parliamentary, Labor Party and Roman Catholic spokesmen.
In Paris strong French police concentrations have been massed in the Belleville area of the city to prevent possible Arab-Jewish fighting. Police have also increased their guards at Jewish and Israeli installations in the French capital. The Israeli Consulate in Paris reported that hundreds of volunteers have been streaming in asking to enlist in the Israeli army and hundreds of others have phoned offering financial contributions to Israel’s armed forces. In Bonn security measures have been tightened up still further at the Israeli Embassy and other Israeli installations in West Germany. Extra armored police patrols have been ordered out. Stricter security has also been placed on Arab missions in Bonn.
JEWS, NON-JEWS ISSUE STATEMENTS
In New York the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith called upon the U.S. and the international community “to support Israel’s efforts at repulsing the treacherous aggression and restoring peace in the area.” The American Zionist Federation termed the attack against Israel “a new low in Arab treachery.” The Labor Zionist Alliance declared that “the free world must insist on upholding the basic principle of negotiation between the parties involved in the conflict in the Middle East.”
In Jerusalem Raymond Epstein of Chicago, president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds and a vice-president of the JTA, said he could only marvel at the spirit of the Israeli people. He noted that staffers in his firm received their call-ups with a smile and a joke and the man on the street seemed supremely confident.
In Boston more than 7000 persons, including many college youth from surrounding areas held a demonstration sponsored by the Crisis Committee of the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Boston which was addressed by representatives of the Jewish, Catholic and Protestant communities.
In this country and Canada an estimated one million Jews participated in emergency meetings in 1000 synagogues last night to express their solidarity with Israel and to pledge maximum support of the Israel Bond campaign.
In London Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress, sent a message to Premier Golda Meir stating: “On behalf of the entire World Jewish Congress and its affiliated communities, as well as for myself personally, I convey to you and to the people of Israel assurances of fullest solidarity in your just and valiant fight against an attack by enemy forces.” The Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth, Dr. Immanuel Jacobovits, has instructed rabbis and ministers of synagogues to arrange for the recital of special psalms after every service during the present time of crisis caused by the renewed Middle East war.
In Chicago some 5000 persons attended a noon rally at the Civic Center Plaza sponsored by the public affairs committee of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Speakers included Illinois Gov. Dan Walker; Mayor Richard Daly and Maynard I. Wishner, chairman and Robert Adler, president of JUF.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
