During the second week of his current visit to the United States. Israeli President Ephraim Katzir was honored by several academic institutions. He was named today as one of three honorary professors at the Polytechnic Institute of New York, He was a post-doctoral fellow at the school, then the Brooklyn Polytechnic in 1948-49.
He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Michigan in a special award presentation in Ann Arbor, Robben W, Fleming, president of the university, was host at a luncheon for Katzir, who was a visiting scholar at the Michigan University’s chemistry department in 1969.
During a five day visit to Boston, he received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Brandeis University and was honored at a scientific colloquium, He was guest of honor at a dinner at which Dr. Marver Bernstein, Brandeis University president, was host, and at a lunch given by the president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Jerome Wiesner.
Katzir said, in accepting the honorary doctorate at Brandeis University, that as President of Israel he had been “re-educated in the values of the Jewish tradition and in the inspiring relationship between Israel and Jews outside of it. I trust that I shall come back to my laboratory in calmer days with new knowledge and insight.”
CREATING A HOMELAND FOR THE DISPERSED
He said his 18 months in the Presidency had taken place “in grave and difficult times, I have come to know new human dimensions and have shared not only the joy of the nation’s achievements and progress but also the sorrow of the bereaved parents, young widows and orphans. Over and over again I encounter survivors of the great holocaust who have come to Israel to rebuild their lives, To create a homeland for the life of the long dispersed and tormented Jewish people is our common goal and it can and must be achieved, we are convinced, without fundamental detriment to any other group.”
Mayor Abraham Beame gave a reception at New York City Hall for Katzir this afternoon, Tomorrow, Katzir will speak at a symposium at the Brooklyn Polytechnic. He will attend worship services and address the congregation tomorrow night at the Park East Synagogue in New York City.
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