B’nai B’rith yesterday celebrated with a public convocation of thanksgiving the safe deliverance of 134 hostages held last month for 39 terror-filled hours, paying tribute to this city’s mayor and police chief, and three ambassadors of Moslem nations whose successful negotiations helped end the ordeal.
Diplomats from 18 nations joined an audience of more than 800–which included hostages and their families–for the solemn-yet-joyful ceremony. Recollections of the ordeal–in which 12 Hanafi Moslems held more than 100 captives on the barricaded top floor of the B’nai B’rith building and also seized hostages at the District Building and Islamic Center–brought tears to many.
Special B’nai B’rith awards for humanitarianism were presented to Mayor Walter E. Washington, Police Chief Maurice J. Cullinane and Ambassadors Ardeshir Zahedi of Iran, Ashraf A. Ghorbal of Egypt and Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan of Pakistan.
Their role in negotiating the release of the captives with the leader of the terrorist band “was as crucial as their skillful efforts were single-minded: the simple, eloquent purpose of saving human lives,” said David M. Blumberg, B’nai B’rith’s president. Ghorbal and Yaqub-Khan, citing previous commitments, were not present for the ceremonies but sent messages which were read to the gathering.
TRIBUTE TO HOSTAGES AND FAMILIES
Blumberg also paid tribute to the steadfastness of the hostages–the majority members of the B’nai B’rith staff that included many non-Jews and Blacks–who had “lived through shock and anguish, and physical pain, with an unspoken spirit of comradeship, of love and concern and compassion for each other. That vision of the human spirit has ennobled us all.”
Similarly, he added, “for those who were on the outside–anguished families and friends, a community gripped by the horror of it all–there remains a vision of groups of men and women from many different walks of life working together with an earnestness of resolve to help, in some way, in the rescue of those who were beleaguered.”
When Cullinane was presented his award by Ella Taylor, a Black hostage of the B’nai B’rith staff, the audience gave the police chief a standing ovation, reflecting the hostages’ high regard for the professionalism with which the metropolitan police department handled the tense and critical situation.
Zahedi, in accepting his award, said. “I have always believed that humanity does not recognize boundaries, religions or nationalities.” He was convinced, he added, “especially after this episode (of terrorism) that “there is a trust, and understanding and a belief of goodness” in the world that “can solve any problem.”
Ghorbal, in his message, declared that the “same divinity” unites us all regardless of the name we give him.” This, he said, made him “more firm in my conviction that although political differences exist between people, these differences can be overcome through understanding, open minds and seeing common ground for co-existence in peace and harmony.” Yaqub-Khan said he was “touched” by being honored for contributing to the “ideals of chivalry and decency, and of peace and friendship in a troubled world.”
Speaking for the hostages, Sidney H. Closter, president of the B’nai B’rith headquarters staff association, said that the label hostage “evokes grim memories.” Instead, he said, “let us remember that we’re born free men and women. We will persist in that spirit in a society which guards freedom as its most cherished value.”
Mayor Washington, who received his award from Mrs. Kay G. Kash, president of B’nai B’rith Women, said that his role in the ordeal had left “a humbleness” in him. He asked the hostages “for prayers to guide and strengthen him in his efforts to “heal the wounds of our city.” The ceremonies were briefly interrupted by eight young Jewish Defense League members who were protesting against giving the awards. Police quickly hustled them out of the auditorium.
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.
