American Jews will celebrate Israel’s Fifth Anniversary tomorrow at special meetings and public celebrations arranged by Zionist groups in communities throughout the country. Major radio and television networks, as well as local stations, will devote substantial time to commemorating the anniversary. The State of Israel and the National Broadcasting Company are cooperating in a television production which will be seen in many cities.
From one end of the country to the other, prominent American and Israeli personalities will appear tomorrow at Israel bond functions to urge the Jewish community of America to purchase Israel bonds so that, as the new republic begins its sixth year of sovereignty, it can benefit from a steady flow of investment capital with which to strengthen its economy.
Israel President Isaac Ben Zvi and Prime Minister David Ben Gurion were assured today by officers of the United Jewish Appeal in a cabled message on the eve of Israel’s fifth anniversary that the UJA is increasing the tempo of its nationwide campaign to help finance a critical three-point program designed to overcome present barriers to Israel’s continued growth. The message was signed on behalf of the Appeal’s national officers by Edward M.M. Warburg, general chairman, and Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, executive vice-chairman.
Mr. Warburg and Dr. Schwartz, referring to Israel’s “present burdens and trials,” pledged to do the utmost to supply maximum funds needed at this time. In saluting Israel’s fifth anniversary, they told President Ben Zvi and Prime Minister Ben Gurion that American Jews “feel more than amply rewarded for their efforts in Israel’s behalf by its guarantees of equal justice, universal education, free elections, a free press, free assembly, freedom of worship and freedom from fear.” The UJA officers lauded “the heroic manner in which you have welcomed 750,000 homeless Jews” since the State’s establishment in 1948.
Messages marking the fifth anniversary of Israel’s independence were issued here today by Henry Morgenthau, chairman of the Israel bond drive; Rudolf G. Sonneborn, chairman of the United Palestine Appeal; Rabbi Irving Miller, president of the Zionist Organization of America; Dr. James Heller, president of the Labor Zionist Organization of America; Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the American Jewish Congress; Edward Norman, president of the American Fund for Israel Institutions; and other leading Jewish groups.
Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the Jewish Agency executive, and Mrs. Rose Halprin, member of the executive, predicted in statements that Israel is entering a period of accelerated economic development which will assure her self-sufficiency in the years to come.
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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.
