More than 3,000 guests, including members of the Israel Cabinet and leaders of the Jewish Agency, today participated in the formal opening of the Zionist Organization of America House built to serve as an American Zionist center in Israel.
The marble house, situated near the Hakirya, seat of the Israel Government, was erected by the Zionist Organization of America in memory of its late president Daniel Frisch of New York. The entire equipment for the house, including the building material–except the stones–was sent from the United States. The building has club rooms, a huge restaurant, a bar, a post office, a travel agency, reading rooms as well as other facilities like a modern club.
Fred Monosson, Boston Zionist leader, who opened the ceremony, described the developments concerning the Z.O.A. House from the day when the late Mr. Frisch laid the foundation stone until today. The house, he said, symbolizes the devotion of the American Zionists to Israel.
The activities of American Zionists on behalf of Israel were lauded at the ceremony by Joseph Sprinzak, Acting President of Israel. He called upon American Zionists to settle in Israel. Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett, who was also one of the speakers, said the Z.O.A. House is a link between American Zionists and Israel. He expressed hope that the House will not only be a station for Zionist tourists, but for permanent settlers in Israel from the United States who will come to help the development of the Jewish State.
Other speakers at the ceremony included Dr. Nahum Goldmann, Berl Locker, Mayor Israel Rokach of Tel Aviv, Dr. Abraham Granot of the Jewish National Fund, Benjamin Browdy, president of the Zionist Organization of America, and Counsellor M. Keeler of the U.S. Embassy who brought greetings from Ambassador Monnet Davis who was prevented from attending the ceremony because of illness.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
