The year 1963 was declared “United Jewish Appeal 25th Anniversary Year” in New Jersey in a proclamation issued today by Governor Richard J. Hughes at a dinner of 100 top leaders of New Jersey’s Jewish communities and State dignitaries at Nassau Inn.
The New Jersey dinner at which Governor Hughes was host, was addressed by Avraham Harman, Israel Ambassador to the U.S., and Joseph Meyerhoff, UJA general chairman. A total of $700, 000 in advance gifts was contributed at the dinner by some 110 New Jersey leaders, in the nation’s first statewide effort in advance of 1963 local UJA drives.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation to Governor Hughes of a nearly two thousand year old clay lamp, recovered from archeological diggings in Israel. The award was presented in recognition of his “outstanding devotion to the cause of human freedom and the saving of human life, “and symbolized “nineteen centuries of Jewish history in which each generation renewed its devotion to freedom’s ideals.”
Ambassador Harman told the dinner guests of the changes he thought the next 25 years would bring for Israel, and Jewish communities throughout the world. “The attainment of peace with our neighbors, ” he said, “is a central problem which will challenge all Israel’s resources and initiatives, but I am deeply convinced we shall move forward to that purpose.”
The Israel Ambassador noted that the matter of migration of Jews to Israel from certain countries would still be a central issue in Jewish life, and that Israel must always be ready to provide for such migration. He added that the next quarter of a century would see Israel seek the “real integration” of its one million two hundred thousand immigrants from 72 countries, and see the country “move forward toward economic consolidation at a decent level of existence.”
Mr. Harman declared that the achievement of these goals would depend in considerable measure on the continued support of American Jews through the United Jewish Appeal. “Your movement has been a major instrument, ” he declared, “in the progress that has been achieved in recent years.”
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