Israel President Zalman Shazar was awarded an honorary degree here this weekend by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro during his official visit to Brazil, the last of the three countries included in his South American tour.
Some 500 educators, clergymen and other intellectuals attended the ceremonies at which Pedro Calmon, rector of the University, presented the degree. In a scholarly acceptance speech, President Shazar called for international cooperation in promoting peace and fighting illiteracy.
Earlier, President Shazar deposited a wreath at the monument for Brazilian soldiers killed in the Second World War and at the monument to Israel’s first President Chaim Weizmann in the city’s Weizmann Square.
On Friday evening, physicians ordered the Israeli President to cancel his scheduled appearance at Sabbath services and at a dinner given him by the Jewish community, because of a general weakness and indisposition resulting from the heavy schedule of engagements. Today, however, he met with a group of the leading Jewish artists, writers and other intellectuals of this city.
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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.