The prediction that “the new state of Israel will create a spiritual revolution in Jewish life,” was made here last night by Rabbi Moses C. Weiler, leader of South African Jerry, at a reception tendered in his honor at the Hotel Commodore by the American ORT Foundation and the American Committee for OSE. Dr. Bernard Kahn, vice-chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, presided.
Rabbi Weiler said that there is no contradiction between Jews remaining loyal and integrated citizens of the nations in which they now live and having a spiritual and cultural attachment to Israel. “Time,” he continued, “will produce a healthy relationship between Jews in the English-speaking world and Israel. Jews will be religiously attached to Judaism while culturally they will be bound to the Hebrew culture which is emerging in the new state, the Jewish cultural values of the past and the culture indigenous to countries where they live.”
Rabbi Weiler also discussed the political and economic situation in South Africa, outlining the position of South African Jewry and the development of new social problems. Discussing the ORT and OSE, he told of his visits to the OSE institutions and ORT workshops where he saw a material and psychological transformation of the DP’s who had found a new hope and dignity.
The South African Jewish leader was greeted at the reception by representatives of the American Jewish Committee, World Jewish Congress, Joint Distribution Committee, National Committee for Labor Israel, HIAS and other organizations. He left today for Canada to address Reform congregations in Toronto and Hamilton.
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