Ajcommittee Gift to Maalot

Members of the American Jewish Committee, whose Board of Governors is holding its Annual Institute in Israel, have presented a cash gift to Maalot and have told Israeli Arabs that the AJCommittee wants to help build better understanding between Jews and Arabs in Israel.

The gift for Maalot, which will be used for the establishment of a gift shop to sell handicrafts made by the town’s residents, was presented by Daniel S. Shapiro honorary president of the AJCommittee’s New York Chapter, to Maalot Mayor Eliahu Ben Yaacov. The New York Chapter adopted the development town in 1968, and after the terrorist attack in 1974 the chapter sent a delegation to determine areas in which help was most needed. This resulted in a fund for a breakfast program for children in Maalot and for the purchase of orthopedic therapy equipment for the Rebecca Sieff Hospital at Safed.

The offer to help Arab-Jewish understanding was made by Miles Jaffe, of Detroit, chairman of the AJCommittee’s National Interreligious Commission, to an audience of Christian Arabs at the Greek Catholic Church in the Arab town of Ibillin. Jaffe spoke from the pulpit at the invitation of Father Elias Chacour, the community priest. The audience included almost 100 members of the AJCommittee’s Board of Governors and their spouses. The AJCommittee, Board members are also meeting with leading Israeli officials. The 10-day meeting, which ends Sunday, marks the first time that the AJCommittee is holding a meeting of its major policy-making body in Israel.

The meeting is being attended by some 100 delegates and national officers who are also celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the AJCommittee; The Board of Governor’s delegation is led by Elmer Winter, president, AJC.