Kadish Luz, Speaker of the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, today, formally congratulated the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee on its approaching 50th anniversary. Speaking from the Knesset’s podium, as 140 members of the United Jewish Appeal study mission currently visiting Israel occupied seats in the House as guests of honor, Mr. Luz extended “our salute and good wishes to the American JDC on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.”
Reviewing JDC’s history, Mr. Luz noted that the organization’s work of “aid to shattered Jewish communities and the rehabilitation of refugees” has served “as a splendid example of the principle of Jewish solidarity and mutual responsibility,” He noted that, in its work in the last half-century, the JDC spent $800, 000,000.
“Your work,” he said, addressing the UJA mission, “is not yet completed. So long as there are Jewish dispersions and so long as there are acts of hostility and hatred against Jews are of frequent occurrence, your help will be needed.”
Earlier, members of the mission attended Israeli paratroop exercises at an unidentified military base. They were told by one of Israel’s topmost defense officers: “Your presence here makes us feel we are not alone. It is not only financial aid that Israel needs, but also moral support. Your presence reminds us that we, the 2, 000, 000 Jews in the Middle East, are not alone, but are the core of Jewish society everywhere.”
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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.