Israel has been encouraged by the many volunteers who offered their services in the current crisis but owes an eternal debt to those who served in the “Aliyah Beth” 20 years ago, Israeli Ambassador Avraham Harman told the 20th anniversary reunion today of Americans, Canadians, and Latin Americans who manned the so-called “illegal immigration” ships during the pre-state period.
The reunion was highlighted by the presentation of a plaque by the Aliyah Beth volunteers to the Smithsonian Institution. The plaque will be displayed in a permanent exhibit featuring a model of the S.S. Exodus, formerly the President Warfield. Elihu Bergman, of Seattle, Wash., acted as chairman of the ceremony at the museum.
The Israel Embassy tendered a reception honoring those who gathered here for the reunion, including crewmen of the Exodus and nine other Aliyah Beth ships from America.
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