More than 750 American Jewish leaders paid tribute today to Israel and its President Chaim Herzog during a luncheon at the Hilton Hotel here. The event was jointly sponsored by the United Jewish Appeal, State of Israel Bonds and the UJA-Federation of Greater New York.
Herzog, who is in the midst of his 10-day official visit to the United States, emphasized in his address the strong ties between American Jewry and Israel and the major role of the organized Jewish community in all aspects of life in Israel — economic, social and cultural.
The Israeli President pointed out that Israel is going through crises on different fronts. On the military front, he noted, Israel is still struggling with the Lebanon crisis. He said that while there have been differences in Israel on the Lebanon policy of the government, there was almost no disagreement on the need to take steps to secure Israel’s population in the north.
He accused the world of a “double standard” regarding Israel’s presence in Lebanon. “When we were near Beirut we were maligned (by the international community), and when we withdrew (to the Awali River) we were maligned again.”
Herzog said that Israel’s other crisis is “the economic crisis” due to the fact that Israel is exporting less than it is importing. He said that currently Israel’s exports amounts to 11 billion dollars a year while its imports stand at $16 billion. He expressed the belief that Israel will overcome its economic difficulties although, he said, it might be a “long and painful process.”
HERZOG URGES JEWISH YOUTH TO MAKE ALIYA
Earlier in the day, Herzog spoke to hundreds of Jewish students at Yeshiva University in Manhattan. He called on American Jewish youth to come and settle in Israel. He declared:
“A very large number of you, American Jewish youth — the prom of tomorrow, travel abroad to study. Come to Israel. Together with all our shortcomings — and there are many — and as one who was involved in Israeli politics I can readily enumerate them, we are a vibrant and dynamic country, with a physical and mystical beauty which cannot be denied.
“In light of the industrial and technological explosion which is occurring in Israel, placing us among foremost in the fields of scientific endeavor, we are in the need of your talent and skills, your youth and your enthusiasm, your ideas and your criticism.”
Herzog left for Washington this afternoon. He is scheduled to meet with President Reagan tomorrow.
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.
