A coffin of ashes representing the remains of 200,000 German and Austrian Jews murdered during the war by the Nazis vas buried here today following funeral processions held in Tel Aviv, Rehovot–residence of the Israeli President–and Jerusalem.
“Words could not describe the calamity which has befallen German and Austrian Jewry,” Dr. Weizmann said. Eulogizing the victims, he added that the grave in which the coffin will repose will serve as a “reminder to all Jews of the happenings of our times, and as a warning to Israelis, and to Jews abroad, of the deeds of the enemy.”
Prior to being brought to Jerusalem from Rehovot, the coffin was led through the streets of Tel Aviv in a special funeral procession witnessed “by thousands of spectators. Traffic vas halted in the city as a token of homage to the Nazis’ victims.
The casket was met at the entrance to Jerusalem by Joseph Sprinzak, speaker of the Knesset, as well as by members of the Jewish Agency executive, Mayor Daniel Auster and Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ben Zion Usiel. With a large, restrained crowd in attendance, Minister of Religion Rabbi Judah L. Mainom delivered the principal eulogy. Otter tributes were paid to the 200,000 martyrs by Mayor Auster and Dr. Arieh Tarta-kower, of the Hebrew University.
The cortege, numbering some 4,000 persons, slowly passed through Jerusalem’s main streets to the Yeshurun Synagogue, where Rabbi Usiel delivered the final eulogy. Following the chanting of the traditional prayer for the dead, “EL Moley Rachamim,” the entire crowd of 4,000 recited the Kaddish service. The cortege then proceeded to the temporary cemetery in the Sanhedria quarter where the coffin was interred.
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