Israeli President Ephraim Katzir has been stressing three basic themes in his talks to various Jewish organizations: the State of Israel is a “pilot plant” where the Jewish people can protect themselves when necessary; increased Jewish education in Israel and the United States is now more essential than ever; and the return of Soviet Jews to Israel, aided by Jews in America, Israel and other countries, is a “miracle.”
Katzir, who arrived in the U.S. last week for the first time since he took office, told 300 leaders from the United Jewish Appeal and Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds that “As a chemist. I look at tiny Israel as a kind of pilot plant–a laboratory for the world around; the world needs a place where experiments will be done, where morals are high, where human life is respected. And this little pilot plant is where we can test the wonderful ideas for which we have stood for so many years,” The occasion was a luncheon report to the President of the progress of the UJA campaign.
In welcoming Katzir, UJA general chairman Frank R. Lautenberg, reported that $219 million had already been pledged for the 1975 campaign; and that $53 million in cash was received by the UJA during the past two months, representing $8 million more than the amount received for the same period last year. “This session, at a time of great crisis, is symbolic of our strength, unity and determination,” Lautenberg declared, “Our communities are stronger than ever, with new levels of commitment and a new vitality.” Lautenberg presented Katzir with a special book commemorating the event, including signed messages from the leaders present.
JEWISH EDUCATION PROVIDES STRENGTH
Addressing some 200 students and faculty members at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Katzir said “There is nothing more important” at this time than increased Jewish education in Israel and the U.S. “This will give us enormous strength,” he said, The President asserted that the Jews of Israel want to have closer contacts with the Jews of America and elsewhere in the world in order to have a unified Jewish people, “We have gone through a most difficult time since the Yom Kippur War,” Katzir said, adding, despite the hardship and the difficulty, the Israeli people are determined to continue “to build and develop” their country.
In his address to more than 1500 Yeshiva University students Katzir said that Israel “has learned from disaster that we must educate for protection worthy of survival.” Referring to the “miracle” of Soviet Jews coming to Israel, Katzir affirmed: “Miracles will continue to happen as long as there are Jews in the world.”
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