With leading Israeli dignitaries–including President Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Interior Minister Itzhak Gruenbaum and others–in attendance, a new settlement was founded early today by Israeli soldiers “somewhere in Israel,” named “Tal Schachar” – Hebrew equivalent for Morgenthau – in honor of Henry Morgenthau Jr., general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal who is now visiting Israel.
The colony will serve as the first of a network of contemplated veterans’ settlements, all of which will be located on Jewish National Fund land. The cost of the program to the J.N.F., in the area from Jerusalem to the coastal region alone, is estimated at $5,600,000.
Following a tree-planting ceremony, Israeli President Dr. Weizmann told the soldier-settlers: “We are a people of peace, but now we must live with one hand on the plough and the other on the sword. I trust we will soon be able to live with both hands on the plough.”
Acknowledging the tribute paid him, Mr. Morgenthau, visibly moved, declared: “Tjis is one of the greatest moments of my life. I would like to feel that every child born here will be my adopted grandchild. In the short time that I have been here, I have been tremendously impressed by the bravery and courage of the Israeli Army and Navy under Premier Ben Gurion’s leadership. You are showing the world that the Jew is a fighting man and in this way you raised the standard of the Jew in the eyes of the Christian. Unfortunately, the young republic of Israel has few friends in the outside world. You therefore must continue to depend on your own strong arm. Through brotherly love, I hope and pray you will hasten the coming of peace, not only in Israel but throughout the world.”
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