Weizmann Pays First Visit to Jerusalem Since Creation of Israel; Moved by Welcome

For the first time since the establishment of the state of Israel, President Chaim Weizmann today visited Jerusalem. He was met by representatives of the Jewish Agency, the municipality, the military governors advisory council, and the Chief Rabbinate. Thousands of Jews cheered him outsides the entrance of the Jewish Agency headquarters where he reviewed a guard of honor.

Visibly moved by the ovations, President Weizmann said at the reception arranged for him: “I can hardly express my feelings on the hearty welcome. I would like to talk to you as freely and unimpeded as you talk to me. But the hard struggle for Jerusalem is still going an in Paris and I am afraid that every incautious word uttered here may hurt our struggle. You can believe me that I am as anxious and impatient to achieve our common goal as you, but I learned one lesson–patience–which brought me to the present point and will bring us to our ultimate goal.” (At the time that the Bulletin went to press Dr. Weizmann’s major address had not been received in New York.)

Dr. Bernard Joseph, Israeli military governor of Jerusalem, opening the meeting in honor of Weizmann, said: “We consider Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital, which was sanctified by our blood and sufferings. While the world talked high about Jerusalem’s sanctity none of the nations raised their voices when Arab hordes shelled the Holy City. The city is sacred to us and we proved it.”

Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog, greeting Dr. Weizmann as “the first Jewish president in the Jewish capital,” urged that Jerusalem he converted not only into Israeli administrative center but also as a spiritual center. Chief Rabbi Ben Zion Usiel spoke in the same vein. Mayor Daniel Auster and Levi Eshkol, member of the Jewish Agency executive, expressed the hope that the day is not far off when the Israeli Government will move to Jerusalem.