B’nai B’rith to Plant Largest Memorial Forest in Israel

B’nai B’rith, the world’s oldest Jewish service organization, will plant the largest memorial forest in Israel as part of the Forest of Martyrs now going up on Jewish National Fund soil in the mountains of Judea in the vicinity of Jerusalem, according to an announcement made by Philip Klutznick, president of B’nai B’rith.

The announcement followed an agreement signed by Mr. Klutznick and Maurice Bisgayer, secretary, in the name of B’nai B’rith, and Dr. Harris J. Levine, president, and Mendel N. Fisher, executive director, in the name of the Jewish National Fund of America. According to the agreement, 300,000 trees will be planted by the 300,000 members of B’nai B’rith in the United States and it is expected that an additional 200,000 trees planted by B’nai B’rith members in other countries of the world will result in a forest of 500,000.

A sanctuary cut out of solid rock will be constructed in the B’nai B’rith Forest forming a section of the Martyrs’ Forest. Among the names listed in this sanctuary will be those members of B’nai B’rith who perished in Nazi Europe or who died during the war in the service of their country and in whose memory trees have been planted in the B’nai B’rith Forest. Members of B’nai B’rith who visit Israel will be able to use the sanctuary as a place of meditation and prayer for their loved ones.

The decision of B’nai B’rith to plant the largest memorial forest in Israel, which was based on a recommendation by a special B’nai B’rith commission which visited Israel under the leadership of Morris Alexander, was hailed by Dr. Harris J. Levine, president of the Jewish National Fund, “as a strong bond linking the vast membership of B’nai B’rith with the rebuilding program of Israel.” A cable was received from Dr. Abraham Granott, world chairman of the board of directors of the Jewish National Fund in Jerusalem, welcoming the participation of B’nai B’rith in the great Martyrs’ Forest.

Mr. Klutznick, speaking for his organization, said: “Our organization has taken this step as an expression of our solidarity with Israel. This feeling of solidarity has been evidenced before by our establishment in Israel of two settlements bearing the names of our two distinguished former presidents, Alfred Cohen and Henry Monsky. In memorializing our sacred martyrs, who perished at the hands of the Nazis, through the planting of the B’nai B’rith Memorial Forest in Israel as part of the Martyrs’ Forest, we are strengthening an old connection with one of the chief instruments for redeeming and reclaiming the land of Israel – the Jewish National Fund.”