Memorial Tribute to Sapir

“No man deserves more gratitude and appreciation” from the Jewish people than Pinhas Sapir, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Chaim Herzog said yesterday at a memorial tribute to Sapir, the late chairman of the Jewish Agency who died on Aug. 12.

Addressing more than 200 Jewish leaders, members of Jewish organizations and Israeli officials who came to pay tribute to Sapir at the Jewish Agency headquarters here, Herzog described Sapir as “one of the giants in Israel’s modern history,” He recalled Sapir’s “unorthodox methods” that brought into realization the seemingly impossible, “Let’s go to Sapir” became a solution to almost every problem in Israel, Herzog said.

Mrs., Charlotte Jacobson, chairman of the World Zionist Organization-American Section, told the audience: “Sapir was a man of peace, and he was willing to pay a high price to bring peace to the land of the people of Israel. His eyes were always to the future–to the need to develop the country and to provide incentives for development and progress. His instinctive genius for finances was outstanding and he not only dreamed big things, he made them come true.”

Frank R, Lautenberg, general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, said “Sapir never accepted what could be; he only asked why not. In his gregarious, larger-than-life way, he lived by the idea that no problem was insoluble. In his lifetime, this extraordinary pioneer took nothing for granted–nothing, perhaps, except the strength of a united Jewish people. So let it be written that in the annals of Jewish life, we–the leadership of the American Jewish community–continued the tasks and the tradition of Pinhas Sapir.”

Also paying tribute to Sapir’s memory were Sam Rothberg, general chairman of the State of Israel Bonds; Max Fisher, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency; Melvin Dubinsky, chairman of the United Israel Appeal; and Dr, Judah Shapiro, president of the Labor Zionist Alliance.