Elath Honored in Chicago; Defines Relations Between Israel and American Jewry

Israel Ambassador Eliahu Elath was tonight awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Hebrew letters by the College of Jewish Studies here at a special convocation to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the College. The same degree was conferred on: Prof. Harry Wolfson of Harvard University; Prof. Julain Morgenstern, president emeritus of the Hebrew Union College; and the late Prof. Chaim Tchernowitz, renowned Talmudist and ‘Hebrew author.

Ambassador Elath, the featured speaker at the convocation, declared that “the relations between Israel and American Jewry may well constitute the pattern for the relations between Israel and all the other settled branches of world Jewry.” He added that “translated into immediate realities” this meant preparation by gaining knowledge of the Hebrew language and culture and “a constant and increasing movement of pioneers from this country to Israel.”

The Ambassador quoted from a recent address by Israel Premier David Ben Gurion, in which he asked for American “know-how” to be brought to Israel by American Jewish engineers, chemists, builders and technicians. Ambassador Elath also called on American Jewry to “see to it that young Jewish boys and girls raised in the proud traditions of American concepts of liberty and democracy should carry these with them to Israel.

“They can bring their spirit of devotion to democratic ideals and their professional knowledge and skill and apply them to the constructive absorption of the new immigrants,” he said. “What we expect from American Jewry, we also expect from the Jews in England, South Africa, France, Australia and other countries,” he concluded.