Mayor Marion Barry and Israeli Ambassador Ephraim Evron jointly opened a photo panel exhibit of Jerusalem here yesterday at the Martin Lather King Memorial Library, Washington’s central public library named in honor of the slain civil rights leader.
The exhibit, entitled, “Jerusalem: Keeping the Past Alive,” is sponsored by the Washington Zionist Federation. It shows, in a series of eight-foot-high panels that Jerusalem is both a city 4000 years old and a major modern metropolis. The exhibit includes Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek’s personal collection of rare art, maps and texts on Jerusalem’s landmarks and excavations delving into its antiquity.
In his remarks, Evron noted that Jerusalem never was the capital of any nation except Israel. What is known as Palestine had for its capitals centers such as Caesaria, Ramallah and Acre, but never Jerusalem. Under their Mandate, the British did not make it the region’s capital but the High Commissioner made it his place of residence. Israel renewed what King David had established in having Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish State, Evron said. He also pointed out that a forest memorializing King has been planted in Israel.
A copy of Kollek’s book on Jerusalem, sent by him for Barry, was presented to the Washington Mayor by Evron. Barry noted in his response that he had considered going to Jerusalem in conjunction with his visit to Monrovia, Liberia next week for a meeting of the Organization for African Unity but found this was not possible. He said he plans a special visit to Jerusalem at a later date.
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.
