Zionist organizations that maintained a close association with Israeli Deputy Premier Simcha Ehrlich today expressed regret over his death yesterday at the age of 67.
Jacques Torczyner, president of the World Union of General Zionists, mourned the “tragic loss” of Ehrlich and praised his “oustanding leadership” within the Liberal Party. “A true Liberal, he fought to imple- ment the principles of General Zionism,” said Torczyner, who is chairman of the Herzl Institute of the American section of the World Zionist Organization.
Alleck Resnick, president of the Zionist Organization of America, said “we shall miss the courageous leadership of a true Zionist pioneer, an eloquent spokesman and an inspiring Israeli statesman in his own right.” Resnick said Ehrlich was “a fountain of knowledge, a true inspiration for General Zionists and a great friend of the ZOA.”
Bernice Tannembaum, acting chairman of the American section of the World Zionist Organization, said Ehrlich was “an example to all of us of unselfish devotion to liberal principles and love of Israel and the security of Jews everywhere. He leaves an imperishable legacy of selfless service to his party, his nation and his people.”
In other statements Gerald Kraft, president of the B’nai B’rith International, said Ehrlich’s death “will be felt throughout Israel.” Kraft noted that Ehrlich stayed behind the scenes, “preferring to work as a moderating figure” in the Israel government. His many years of public service, Kraft said, “will be long remembered” and “greatly missed.”
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.
