Alliance Israelite Opens Celebration of Hundredth Anniversary

The Alliance Israelite Universelle, the leading organization of French Jewry, opened a four-day commemoration of its hundredth anniversary last night at an impressive gathering in the UNESCO auditorium.

Delegations representing Jewish communities throughout the free world joined with representatives of the French Government, personalities in the field of French culture and representatives of the French Jewish community to mark the occasion, Andre Malraux, the French Minister for Culture, presided.

In his address opening the meeting, M. Malraux paid tribute to the spiritual values of the Jewish people and the traditions they had maintained for over 2, 000 years. He voiced thanks to the Alliance on behalf of the French Government for its work in spreading French culture among the Jews in many European countries and in the Moslem countries.

Professor Rene Cassin, vice-president of the Conseil d’Etat and president of the Alliance, lauded the long-standing friendship of President Charles de Gaulle and his interest in the work of the Alliance. He noted the extent of the Alliance’s work in Israel where it established the Mikveh Israel agricultural school and numerous other educational and vocational institutions.

Marcel Franco, president of the American Friends of the Alliance, also addressed the gathering and described the wide-ranging work of the Alliance.

United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold, in a message read to the Assembly, praised the Alliance for its long fight for human rights.

M. Louis Joxe, the French Minister of Education, presided at sessions today devoted to discussion of the educational activities of the Alliance.