The strengthening and growth of Israel are vital to the ultimate stability and peace of the Middle East, Simcha Pratt, Israel’s Consul General in New York, told the National Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, addressing its 29th annual convention today.
“The thriving development of the State will convince Israel’s neighbors of the futility of their intentions to destroy her and will gradually discourage their hostile attitude,” Mr. Pratt said. Looking ahead to the second decade of independence, the Consul General cited as Israel’s main task the integration of hundreds of thousands of Jews outside Israel who are anxious to come to Israel to live in freedom and dignity.
The convention commended Israel, in a resolution, on its achievements during the past 10 years, and foresaw a major contribution of Israel during the coming decade “in bringing the spiritual values of the prophets as a source of strength to a world torn with fears and anxieties.”
The National Federation, which is a constituent organization of the United Synagogue of America, is composed of some 300 men’s clubs of Conservative Jews throughout the United States and Canada. Rabbi Joel S. Geffen, spiritual advisor to the National Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, in his annual address told the convention that “because of the overwhelming magnitude of the problems that confront us, we minimize the part which each person can play in the present crises. Each individual,” he went on, “can triumph over this period of despair by drawing strength from our rich spiritual and cultural heritage.”
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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.
