The United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York formally inaugurated its 1952 campaign tonight with a dinner at which it was announced that more than $7,000,000 has already been received in pledges.
Five hundred persons prominent in business and civic affairs attended the dinner, which was a testimonial to the five general chairmen of the campaign — Samuel Hausman, Benjamin Lazrus, Samuel S. Schneierson, Jerome I. Udell, and Jack D. Weiler–as well as the occasion for presentation to U.S. Senator Herbert H. Lehman of New York of the third annual Chairmen’s Award for distinguished service to the causes participating in the New York U.J.A. drive.
The award for Sen. Lehman–a gold plague–was accepted by his son because the Senator was prevented from coming to New York by urgent business which required his presence in Washington. The principal speakers at the dinner included Viscount Samuel of Mount Carmel, who was the first British High Commissioner under the Palestine Mandate; Abba Eban, Ambassador of the State of Israel to the United States, and Louis Broido, president of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York. William Rosenwald, a U.J.A. national chairman, presided.
In his statement of acceptance–read at the dinner–Sen. Lehman said: “The millions of dollars poured into Israel in the effort to create a haven for countless thousands of Jewish refugees helped immeasurably to strengthen and develop this new nation which America now recognizes as its staunchest ally in the Middle East. In Israel, as in Europe, our government has followed the example set by its private citizens in supporting the work of the United Jewish Appeal and related causes. The private aid of the United Jewish Appeal, while given not to governments but to people, has none the less mightily advanced the democratic cause all over the world.”
EBAN OUTLINES BASIS FOR ARAB-ISRAELI PEACE
Ambassador Eban said in his address that there will be peace begween Israel and the Arab states of the Near East “if each nationalism in the area recognizes for other nationalisms the same rights as it claims for itself.” There are signs of a new awakening in the Near East to the necessity of regional cooperation, he asserted. “Men of vision in Arab and Moslem capitals are beginning to realize that a sterile vendetta against Israel weakens and distracts the region as a whole and each of its individual states–the Arab states no less than Israel.” he declared.
Contrasting Israel’s 8,000 square miles of land area with the 1,000,000 miles of Arab land, the Israel Ambassador said: “Because the sovereignty of Israel operates within such modest limits, it shall be defended with special zeal. However, if each nationalism in the area recognizes for other nationalisms the same rights which it claims for itself, there will be peace.”
Speaking of the aid which the people of Israel are depending on Americans to given them in their current battle for economic survival, Ambassador Eban said: “It remains vitally necessary for Israel’s future to strengthen the United Jewish Appeal which is one of the most remarkable undertakings in voluntary statesmanship ever known. It is an indispensable architect of Israel’s future. The other efforts on which we have embarked must supplement and augment but not replace it.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
