The reformed Fairmount Temple will plant a 10,000 tree forest within the Jerusalem Forest Park, utilizing funds generated by its recent and spectacular Israel Expo ’70 Exhibit, it was announced today. The dedication of the Forest will be held on August 2 with the participation of Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld, the temple’s spiritual leader and president of the American Jewish Congress, accompanied by a contingent of Fairmount Temple High School students. The chairman of the Exhibit was Bernard R. Hollander, a Cleveland attorney, assisted by Marvin J. Rukin and Mrs. Louis Zabell. 700 volunteers manned the Exhibit, which was attended by 12,000 people, the largest in the history of the Cleveland area.
Jews and Christians alike walked through the typical Old Jerusalem streets of shops, stores, stalls, sidewalk cafe and theater, thus transporting them 7,000 miles on a magic carpet to the Holy City. Joseph H. Persky, president of the Anshe Chesed Congregation (Fairmount Temple), suggested that other temples and congregations throughout the country might emulate the example of Fairmount Temple by evoking the atmosphere of Jerusalem and bringing Israel close to the citizens of its communities. It was his belief, too, that such exhibits would be financially beneficial to Israel through the sale of Israeli products and the raising of funds for Israel.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.