Begin, who arrived here Friday for a weekend of meetings with Jewish communal and religious leaders, was under heavy security protection at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel where he and his wife were staying. Jewish leaders who met with Begin at his hotel suite for at least two hours included Rabbi Alexander Schindler, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Max Fisher, chairman of the Jewish Agency Board of Governors; Frank Lautenberg, national president of the United Jewish Appeal; and some 25 other Jewish leaders.
Begin reportedly presented these leaders with what Schindler called “a conceptual framework” of his views. Schindler also said that those present appeared “more than satisfied with his approach, with the reasonable manner with which he expressed himself and with his strength.”
The Premier also met with some 30 American Jewish businessmen at a luncheon in his suite which a Begin aide said was sponsored by the UJA. It was reported later that a renewed drive for encouraging investment in Israel was discussed.
TUMULTUOUS OVATIONS FOR BEGIN
Travelling under tight security, Begin received tumultuous welcomes on the Lower East Side were he met with Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, chairman of the council of Torah Sages, and other leaders of the Council in the rabbi’s apartment and at the world headquarters of the Lubavitch movement in Brooklyn where he met with Rabbi Menachem Schneerson. Some 1000 Jews applauded begin on his arrival at the Lubavitch headquarters where he greeted the throng with the words “shalom rav.”
Begin described Schneerson as “a great moster and teacher” and said he wanted the rabbi’s blessing before going to Washington to meet with Carter. After his two-hour meeting with Schneerson, Begin said what had been discussed was confidential. He added, however, “This time the Jewish community is more united than ever.”
An estimated 1000 Jews also assembled on the street when word spread on the Lower East Side that Begin was at Feinstein’s home. Among the other Council of Torah Sages members present were Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzkey, Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner and Rabbi Mosche Sherer, executive president of Agudath Israel of America. During the one-hour meeting, the rabbis discussed with Begin the broad range of issues on Israel’s domestic and foreign agendas and Begin’s mission in the U.S.
At a dinner Friday night at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, hosted by UN Ambassador Chaim Herzog, Begin said that during his talks in Washington with Carter he will describe his Mideast peace plan in detail orally before presenting the President with a short document outlining the peace plan. The document, Begin said, was unanimously approved by the Israeli government.
On the expected visit to Israel of secretary of State Cyrus Vance a few days after Begin returns from Washington, Begin said he would ask Carter to postpone Vance’s trip for about two weeks in order to enable the Israeli government to prepare for his visit in view of possible new developments after the Begin-Carter talks.
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.
