Dinitz Urges Total Support of American Jewish Community

Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz spoke to a private luncheon for leaders of the American Jewish community here Friday. The group of some 150 Jewish leaders, all major contributors to the United Jewish Appeal campaign, met on the eve of Mrs. Golda Meir’s address last night to the 1975 National Conference of the UJA. “What we are undergoing now is not a crisis that demands despair, but a different time…a time of great challenge,” Dinitz told the group. “What you do–you who have given your lives to humanitarian dedication and commitment–will determine how well that challenge will be met.”

“This is the most important conference you have ever had,” he continued. “Together we must make this difficult period ahead one dedicated to great achievement. Let us raise our sights and demonstrate that together we can overcome.” Dinitz stressed that “the entire American Jewish community must be reached through its leadership. There is no other aid, from any group in the world–except you and us together–and together we must strive for new levels of human dignity.”

Those present at the meeting included: Justice Israel Maisels, member of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency and national chairman of the Keren Hayesod/United Israel Appeal of South Africa; Paul Zuckerman, outgoing UJA general chairman; Frank R. Lautenberg, incoming 1975 UJA general chairman; Fritz Frank, member of the Executive of the United Israel Appeal of South Africa and of the South African Zionist Federation; and Irving Bernstein, UJA executive vice-chairman.

Addressing a session earlier in the day. Justice Maisels called on Jews to unite to help Israel, noting that “when we are united for Israel we are united for ourselves, for the Jewish people.”