Israeli President Ephraim Katzir attended two synagogue services here Friday night before returning to Israel last night. At the worship service at the Park East Synagogue he said: “I shall be returning to Israel with fine and encouraging memories of the Jewish communities I have seen and with hope for even greater economic and educational cooperation and constantly increasing pilgrimage to Israel.”
Katzir, who was greeted by the congregants, religious leaders of all faiths, and leading state, federal and city government officials, said that “despite the clouds, the difficulties and uncertainties in the life of Israel, and, I fear, of the whole free world, the joint devotion, belief and sacrifice of Israelis and Jews abroad will continue to make possible what outsiders sometimes see as practically impossible–the strength and spiritual creativity of the State of Israel within a more rational and peaceful Middle East.”
On behalf of the Park East Synagogue’s congregation, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, spiritual leader, presented Katzir a mounted silver Torah breast plate, in his sermon the rabbi said: “American Jews are not uneasy or ambivalent about their support of Israel. More than ever before they understand the partnership of Israel and the Jewish people in shaping Jewish destiny and survival.”
At the Fifth Avenue Synagogue, Katzir was called for a reading from the Torah. In his sermon Rabbi Emanuel Rackman lauded Katzir as the “symbol of the unity of the Jewish people not only in Israel but throughout the world.” As Katzir entered the synagogue, the congregation rose and he was greeted by Rabbi Rackman.
Earlier in the week about 100 demonstrators, mostly Arab students, disrupted a speech by Katzir at the University of Michigan where the molecular biologist and bio-physicist was to receive an honorary degree from the university’s law school. The demonstrators began chanting “Free Palestine” and “Down with Zionism,” 10 minutes after he began to speak and prevented him from continuing for 30 minutes, The demonstrators were finally removed by police.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
