Leaders of the Allied Jewish Campaign here today expressed certainty that the total of $5, 000, 000 raised in 1958 will be exceeded this year, and that there are possibilities of again approaching the all-time high of close to $6, 000, 000 attained in 1957.
The fund-raising campaign opened here this week with a total of $3, 500, 000 raised even before the drive started. This represents 68 percent of the total amount subscribed last year. One of the major events during the first week of the campaign was a farewell dinner by the Detroit Jewish community to Abba Eban, who is retiring from his post as Israel’s Ambassador to the United States and as head of the Israel delegation to the United Nations at the end of next month, to enter the political arena in Israel in the national elections there next November.
Reviewing Israel’s position before the 600 guests who attended the affair, Ambassador Eban placed special emphasis on “the unique partnership between Israel and the United States.” He pointed out that “both are so mysteriously alike–they are two nations of immigrants, two nations devoted to the highest expressions of democracy. “
He spoke with satisfaction of his tours of 39 states in behalf of his country and he said that he felt everywhere “the deep impression of friendship for Israel by Americans. The roots of this friendship have every great depth and rest primarily on a sense of justice,” he added.
Speaking of the world’s recognition of the rights of Jews to statehood, Mr. Eban said that “it would have been a disgrace to the world’s conscience if the United Nations, which has liberated many peoples and so many Arab states had not also liberated that tiny notch–Israel. ” He appealed again to the Arab states to abandon strife and to “join with us”in advancing the standards of the Middle East.
Referring to Nasser’s most recent repeated threats to Israel, Mr. Eban said that his latest address was a “juvenile and sinister speech–not an infrequent combination. ” He pointed out that Nasser already has been resisted by Jordan, Lebanon, Tunis, Sudan and Iraq, and he expressed the belief that the Arab peoples “will awaken — in a future to be shared with us in peace.”
Warning that “we must plan for contingencies, ” such as the emergency emigration movements from Eastern Europe into Israel, Mr. Eban asked for continued cooperation from American Jewish communities and for a strengthened partnership between Israel and U.S. Jewry. He described the economic needs in the country, and he spoke – enthusiastically of the friendships that have been established between Israel and Afro-Asian nations.
Irwin I. Cohn, chairman of this year’s drive, presided at the dinner. He was introduced by Max M. Fisher, president of the Jewish Welfare Federation. Participants in the program included Paul Zuckerman, chairman of the pre-campaign activities; Leonard N. Simons, the campaign co-chairman, and Jack O. Lefton, chairman of trades and professions. Isidore Sobeloff, executive vice president of the Federation, delivered the concluding address.
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