British Jewry Preparing to Mark Israel’s Independence Anniversary

British Jewry is preparing to celebrate Israel’s Independence with the strongest display of solidarity for the Jewish State ever seen here except in times of an acute Middle East. crisis. Functions have been arranged in large and small communities throughout the country. They include Independence Day services in synagogues. Israeli fruit and fashion shows, live entertainment and film shows, choral evenings, art exhibitions, parades and speeches.

Teams of local Zionists and Israel Embassy speakers have been reinforced by personalities from Israel, including Nissim Eliad, a prominent Liberal Knesset member, and Prof. Yoram Dinstein of Tel Aviv University. Gad Yaacobi. Israeli Transport Minister, will address the central event in London, featuring a former Israel army entertainment group.

The sheer variety of the functions, and their light-hearted nature, reflect the community’s recovery of confidence in Israel after the Yom Kippur War traumas and the new solidarity in the face of the United Nations anti-Zionist proclamations.

This is reflected in other ways: the forecasts that British tourism this year may bounce back to record proportions and that the slump in aliya from the UK–admittedly always modest–has “bottomed out.” Nor will the public displays of solidarity be limited to Independence Day. An even more ambitious function is being arranged for the end of the month at London’s huge Earl’s Court Exhibition Center, which, if successful, will make all previous functions appear trivial.

But the high point of the season will be the visit here of Israeli President Ephraim Katzir. With the exception of the late President Zalman Shazar’s attendance at the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill, this will be the first visit to London by an Israeli head of state. Although he will not be on a state visit, Katzir is to meet Queen Elizabeth, an encounter which will be warmly welcomed by the Anglo-Jewish community.