The fourth anniversary of the State of Israel was celebrated here tonight at Carnegie Hall by the American Zionist Council, which represents all Zionist groups in the United States. More than 2,700 persons attended the affair, at which representatives of the United States Government and the United Nations were present.
Principal speakers at the gathering included Israeli Ambassador Abba S. Eban, Senator Herbert H. Lehman, Senator Irving M. Ives and Louis Lipsky, chairman of the American Zionist Council. Mr. Lipsky praised President Truman “for his sympathy and understanding and for his many acts of friendship” to Israel. He also hailed the members of Congress “who have maintained American policy with regard to Israel in the finest spirit of our democracy.”
On the occasion of Israel’s Independence Day, Ambassador Eban issued a statement declaring that “the relations between the United States and Israel were never closer or more fruitful than now.” He emphasized that “the Mutual Security Program has been of great benefit to Israel’s economy” and that Israel has found “increasing attention” being devoted to her role as “an indispensable and positive element” in the political and defensive tasks of the Near East.
U.J.A. GETS $500,000 AT ANNIVERSARY DINNER; DR. GOLDMANN HONORED
The campaign of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York for this year went well over the $11,000,000 mark tonight as 300 leading contributors gathered at a dinner at the Hotel Pierre to celebrate the fourth anniversary of Israel’s independence and launch a month of especially intensive activity in the drive. Half a million dollars in gifts were announced at the dinner.
The dinner was sponsored by the American Jewish Congress in honor of Isaac Wolfson, British philanthropist, and Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the Jewish Agency, Dr. Goldmann was presented with the American Jewish Congress’ 1951 Stephen S. Wise Award for “outstanding contributions to the welfare of Jews in all lands.”
Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the American Jewish Congress, who presided over the dinner, recalled the vital role that the aid of Americans–as individuals and as a nation–has played in helping the people of Israel create a democracy in the Middle East and surmount the difficulties besetting it. “For all that Israel has achieved thus far, ” he said, “it owes a great debt of obligation to the American people and government, who have given sympathetic understanding as well as political and financial help.
32,000 NEW YORKERS EXPECTED TODAY AT EBBETS FIELD
A recorded message from Prime Minister David Ben Gurion was flown in from Israel today and will be heard by a capacity audience of nearly 32,000 New Yorkers who will gather at Ebbets Field tomorrow evening to celebrate Israel’s fourth anniversary. Admission to Ebbets Field will be by purchase of a State of Israel bond and 31,000 tickets have already been distributed.
The spectators at the celebration will see the first exhibition of one of the four crowns from the tomb of King David in Jerusalem. The crown was flown from Israel to be shown throughout the United States as “a symbol of appreciation for vital American assistance.” The program will include a concert by the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Izler Solomon and featuring as soloist Mischa Elman, world-renowned violinist. Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who visited Israel on her recent world tour, will be guest of honor.
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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.
