Four prominent Canadians, led by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, were honored here this week-end with the presentation of engraved silver Bibles as part of Canadian Jewry’s observance of the tenth anniversary of the re-establishment of the State of Israel. The other recipients of the Jerusalem Bibles, presented for distinguished service to Israel, were Lester B. Pearson, Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada; Canadian Supreme Court Justice Ivan Rand, and Sir Ellsworth Flavelle, president of the Canada-Israel Association.
Israel Ambassador Arthur Lourie told the gathering at which the presentations were made that many Canadians, including those present, had played a “notable and deeply appreciated part in Israel’s young history.” A message from Premier David Ben Gurion to the function expressed “gratitude” for the “steadfast and friendly support extended our state since its inception by successive Canadian governments and by all factions in Canadian life.
The presentations were made individually by Samel Bronfman, president of the Canadian Jewish Congress; Lawrence Frieman, of the United Zionist Council of Canada; Prof. Maxwell Cohen of McGill University, and Levy Becker, vice-chairman of the Canadian Israel Celebration Committee.
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