Role of Hebrew Stressed at Herzliah Institute Dinner; $82,000 Raised

The rebirth of Hebrew as a language and its role as a spiritual link between the State of Israel and the Jewish communities throughout the rest of the world was emphasized last night by Dr. Emanuel Neumann, president of the Zionist Organization of America, in an address at a dinner sponsored by Herzliah Hebrew Teachers’ Institute of New York in cooperation with the ZOA at the Hotel Plaza,

The dinner, attended by some 600 leaders representing educational groups and ZOA districts, was tendered in honor of Abraham Goodman of New York, on the occasion of his election as chairman of the Herzliah Institute’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Goodman is chairman of the National Executive Council of the ZOA. It was announced that $82,000 in contributions and pledges were raised at the dinner for the Herzliah Institute towards a goal of $250,000.

Israel Ambassador Abba Eban, in a message sent to the gathering, asserted that “the revival of Hebrew as a language of speech and life towers above every other achievement of Israel in the intellectual domain. It builds a bridge between modern Israel and the ancient Hebrew kingdoms which gave mankind the authentic message of its own salvation. And it creates a common meeting place of the spirit between Israel in its homeland and her Jewish kinsmen throughout the world. “

Dr. Neumann, in his address, underscored the role of the Hebrew language “to assure the perpetuation of our cultural heritage” and warned that “to abandon it is to invite assimilation and spiritual death. ” He voiced astonishment that “despite the rise of the State of Israel and since that event there should be some in our midst, even among the Rabbinate, who would reduce the role and place of Hebrew in the religious education of our young. “