The America-Israel Cultural Foundation, headed by violinist Isaac Stern, has taken over the activities of the former America-Israel Society and will continue the Society’s activities as part of its own cultural exchange program between the United States and Israel, it was announced today. The president of the Society and one of its founders, Theodore R. McKeldin, at the time Governor of Maryland, and now Mayor of Baltimore, joined the Board of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation together with other leaders of the Society.
The decision to take over these activities was made to avoid an unnecessary duplication of efforts. The America-Israel Society, an interfaith organization, was founded in 1954. Its purpose was “to foster greater understanding and friendship between the people of the United States and the people of Israel.” Outstanding national leaders in government, labor, religion, communal work were the founders of the group. In 1964 the Society moved its headquarters from Washington to New York and expanded its activities by incorporating the American Christian Association for Israel and the Interfaith Committee on Israel.
The America-Israel Cultural Foundation which organizes cultural exchanges between the United States and Israel, has given during the last 26 years over $20, 000, 000 for projects in some 50 cultural institutions in Israel and has provided more than 1600 scholarships representing an amount of $250, 000. In addition to intensifying these activities, it collects art treasures for showing in Israel’s museums and conducts an important building program.
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