Jewish Agency, Zionist Groups Stress Israel’s Progress on Rosh Hashanah

The progress achieved in Israel as compared with the uncertain situation of Jews in other countries was stressed in a Rosh Hashanah message by the American section of the Jewish Agency signed by Mrs. Rose L. Halprin, acting chairman. The message reads:

“The solemnity of Rosh Hashanah, a date of profound religious meaning for Jews everywhere, is underscored this year by poignant contemporary events. In the twilight hour of the Jewish calendar years, Jews throughout the world are depressed by the continued isolation of two million Jews in the lands behind the Iron Curtain, the uncertain fate of nearly a quarter of a million Jews in unsettled North Africa, and danger signs for several smaller Jewish communities in other areas of the world where there are grave indications of incipient political upheaval.

“The picture has not been all gloom, however. The depression has been more than off-set by the wondrous progress of the State of Israel, which stands ready to admit and absorb, at whatever cost, Jews from danger areas. In these efforts, American Jewry will undoubtedly continue its dedicated cooperation with Israel. It is therefore in a spirit of humility and thanks giving that Jews meet this New Year because, with the emergence of Israel, they can today, as they could not in the past, salvage threatened communities and offer the security of a home to imperilled brethren.”

CALL UPON AMERICAN ZIONISTS TO STRENGTHEN ISRAEL

Rabbi Irving Miller, chairman of the American Zionist Council, which represents all Zionist bodies in this country, in his New Year’s message, called on Zionists in this country to continue their efforts to strengthen Israel in its fight for freedom and security and its in gathering of Jews from many countries. “As Zionists, we also face the task of sustaining and strengthening Jewish ideals, Jewish culture, Jewish living, Jewish people hood,” he added.

Mortimer May, president of the Zionist Organization of America, in his holiday message, said: “Despite the trials and unsolved problems of the past year, we all experience the great joy of proudly watching Israel continue to grow as a beacon of enlightenment in the Middle East. In extending our special greetings to the citizens of the State of Israel, we renew our determination to stand by their side in their historic task of creating a free, democratic and culturally rich society, based on the ethical and spiritual concepts of Judaism.”

In a special New Year’s message cabled from Israel, Mrs. Rebecca Shulman, president of Hadassah, called upon the American Jewish community to regard “concern for the welfare and survival of Jews everywhere” as its dominant principle for the year 5716. Emphasizing “the great peril in which the Jews of French North Africa find themselves as the New Year approaches,” Mrs. Shulman declared that American Jews must redouble their efforts to make certain that the catastrophe which overtook the Jews of Europe 20 years ago does not happen again.

Dr. Harris J. Levine, president of the Jewish National Fund of America, said in his message: “The eyes of world Jewry are centered on Israel’s defenses as the security of the Jewish State is in dire jeopardy.” He cited the building of 180 border villages on JNF land and the planting of security forests, with 25,000,000 trees ringing the frontiers of Israel, as the JNF’s contribution to the security of the State of Israel. Other Zionist holiday messages were issued by: Rabbi Mordecai Kirshblum, president of the Mizrachi Organization of America and Dr. Sara Feder, president of Pioneer Women.

The following leaders of central religious bodies issued Rosh Hashanah greetings to American Jewry: Dr. Abraham J. Feldman, president of the Synagogue Council of America, Dr. Maurice N. Eisendrath, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Rabbi Barnett R. Brickner, president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis; Moses I. Feuerstein, president of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, and Rabbi David B. Hollander, president of the Rabbinical Council of America.