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New Housing in Jerusalem Seen by City’s Deputy Mayer As Vital Link to Diaspora Jews

March 31, 1971
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Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor, Rabbi Shear Y. Cohen, contends that the new housing and building programs currently being undertaken in the city offer a vital link to world Jewry. Speaking at the Dean’s List Luncheon of Yeshiva University’s Erna Michael College of Hebraic Studies, Rabbi Cohen said “The further development and building in and around Jerusalem is a necessary bridge to world Jewry. Greater availability of housing serves as an inducement and offers Jews everywhere a greater opportunity to settle in Israel.” Rabbi Cohen said he was initially opposed to the new building plans because he thought “the holiness” of the city would be jeopardized and its beauty threatened. “However, the building of Jerusalem strengthens the spiritual beauty of the city,” he said, “Beauty means not only aesthetic beauty,” he added, “but spiritual beauty as well. Further population and growth of the city as a center of world Jewry will give Jerusalem a greater spiritual beauty and grandeur.” Sixty-nine students at the college were honored for academic achievement in the 1969-70 school year, and were greeted by Dean Jacob Rabinowitz.

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