Mendel Fisher Honored for Twenty Years of Service to J.N.F.

The Jewish National Fund of New England honored Mendel N. Fisher of New York, national executive director of the Jewish National Fund of America, on the completion of twenty years of service to the Jewish National Fund at the annual land-for-Israel dinner last night at the Hotel Statler. A grove of 1,000 trees in the Mendel N. Fisher Forest in Israel was planted by the New England Jewish National Fund.

The citation, presented by Fred Monosson of Boston, New England, JNF president paid tribute to Mr. Fisher "on the occasion of his 20th anniversary and in appreciation of his untiring efforts and devotion to the Jewish National Fund and the redemption of the soil of Israel." More than 1,000 guests attended the dinner. The 1955 Man of the Year award was presented by Mr. Monosson to Mayor John B. Hynes of Boston in appreciation of his leadership of the cause of civil rights, and his interest in the Jewish National Fund and the State of Israel.

In addressing the dinner, Mr. Fisher declared that "direct Israel-Arab negotiations and the entering of the United States into a mutual defense agreement with Israel on the same basis of the United States agreement with the government of the Republic of China, would ensure permanent peace in that area of the world."

Mayor Hynes, in his address, declared: "Israel finds itself deserted by the powers of the West while it is confronted by the ever-growing hostility of its Arab neighbors. The time has come to speak out plainly. The United States has rejected Israel’s protests and turned down Israel’s request for arms-a request which, if fulfilled, would give America’s foreign policy in the Middle East at least some semblance of neutrality. Israel has a right to expect a good deal more from the United States."