The massive tombstone of Theodor Herzl was unveiled on Mount Herzl today marking the centenary of the birth of the founder of modern political Zionism. As a workers choir sang selections from Handel’s oratorio, “Saul,” Acting President Kaddish Luz, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and S. Z. Shazar, chairman for the Jewish Agency executive in Jerusalem, unveiled the block which was carved out of the Galilee hills.
Representatives of more than 20 towns, 25 local councils, 15 regional councils and some 150 settlements placed memorial stones around the Herzl tomb. The audience included more than 1,000 persons among them tourists from the United States. South America and Australia. Teachers and seminary students from other countries also were in the audience.
A proclamation in the name of the Israel Government and the World Zionist Organization executive was read during the ceremony. “When the axe of extermination fell upon the Jewish community in European exile. Herzl’s dream became the banner of those who rose in revolt and in the final struggle for freedom, it strengthened the hands of the people of Israel,” it was declared in the proclamation.
“May this monument bring to all the dispersed of our people the message that his dream of renewed independence has become life. The sweat and blood of our sons and daughters made a reality of his legend,” the proclamation stated. It also expressed the hope that “the homeland will continue to be a citadel and refuge for the scattered people, dedicated to the revival of our ancient glory and to the establishment of the state on the bases of justice, peace and happiness. “
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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.
