New York City Celebrates Israel’s Anniversary; Eisenhower Greets Israel

The City of New York formally celebrated Israel’s 12th Independence Day today.

At impressive ceremonies held on the steps of City Hall, with a large number of dignitaries of the State, the City and the three major religious faiths–Jewish, Protestant and Catholic–participating, a large crowd in City Hall watched the proceedings and cheered the addresses and the messages congratulating Israel on its 12th anniversary.

Loud applause accompanied by cheering, greeted the reading of a message from President Eisenhower. Mr. Eisenhower’s message, cabled to Israel’s President Izhak Ben Zvi stated: “It gives me great pleasure to extend hearty best wishes and felicitations to Your. Excellency and to the people of Israel, from the people of the United States, as well as my own personal regards on this 12th anniversary of the independence of Israel.”

After one of the city bands played the national anthems of Israel and of the United States, an invocation was delivered by Rabbi David I. Golovensky, president of the New York Board of Rabbis. Later, a special prayer for peace was offered by the Rev. Dan M. Potter, executive director of the Protestant Council of the City of New York, while the benediction at the close of the ceremonies was recited by the Very Rev. Msgr, Timothy J. Flynn, of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York.

GOVERNOR AND MAYOR ADDRESS LARGE CROWD AT CITY HALL

Mayor Wagner delivered an address and read a special “Israel Independence Day” proclamation. Other addresses were delivered by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller; Abe Stark, president of the City Council of New York; and Dr. Benjamin Eliav, Israel’s new Consul General in New York. A special message was read from Israel’s Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, who expressed the Jewish State’s “gratitude” for the celebration both to Gov. Rockefeller and Mayor Wagner.

Mayor Wagner told the assemblage he was “particularly proud of the tremendous part New Yorkers have always played in helping the people of Israel to build their new land, and make of it an outpost of freedom and a shining example of the democratic way of life. The Mayor expressed his “pride” in the fact that he is serving as chairman of the Non-Sectarian Committee for the United Jewish Appeal. City Council President Stark landed highly the value of inter-cultural exchanges between the United States and Israel.

Governor Rockefeller, after lauding the State of Israel for the country’s achievements during the past 12 years, referred to the Jews behind the Iron Curtain and said: “Our thoughts go out on this occasion to the hundreds of thousands of Jews in many parts of the world who suffer in bondage and oppression, but whose lives are sustained by the prospects that they will one day reach the promised land of Israel.”

Dr. Eliav, who made his first public appearance here since assuming the post of Consul General last week, told the celebrants that Israel “Hopes and prays” that it may continue “our work of construction and up building in peace and security. ” On behalf of the Israel Government, he expressed “gratitude” to the American people and Government for the aid given to the Jewish State.