Leaders of Major U.S. Jewish Groups and Mexico’s Jewish Community at Inauguration of Mexican Preside

Leaders of six major U.S. Jewish organizations were among the 1300 foreign guests invited by President Jose Lopez Portillo to attend his inauguration last week. The groups represented were the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, American Jewish Congress, American Jewish Committee. National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, B’nai B’rith and the National Council of Jewish Women.

Twenty-five leaders of Mexico’s Jewish community were also invited guests at the impressive ceremony held in the National Auditorium. This was the first time that representatives of Mexico’s Jewish community had been invited to a Presidential inauguration, Enrique Elias, president of the community’s representative body, Comite Central Israelita, said that leaders of Mexico’s Jewish community are optimistic about President Lopez Portillo’s plan of government as expressed in his inaugural address. “We see a bright future for our community,” Elias said.

Seymour Graubard, honorary chairman of the ADL, who last December led the delegation that met with President Luis Echeverria, said that Mexico’s recent voting pattern in the United Nations was also cause for optimism.

“At the UN and at the UNESCO conference in Nairobi, Mexico’s votes on issues crucial to Israel indicate that there has in fact been a favor able change in Mexico’s policy toward Israel,” he said. “We anticipate that this policy will be strengthened by President Lopez Portillo.” Graubard also cited the arrival in Mexico each Tuesday of an El Al airliner as further evidence of good relations between Mexico and Israel.