The 13th anniversary of the passage of the United Nations resolution for the establishment of the State of Israel was commemorated tonight with the participation of prominent American and Israeli statesmen with a united call by top-ranking American Zionist leaders for a strengthened Zionist movement to ensure the spiritual unity of the Jewish people throughout the world. The call was coupled with pledges to intensify the efforts for economic aid to Israel and to help safeguard its security.
Over 1,000 Zionists attended a $100-a-plate dinner at the Astor Hotel, the proceeds of which will go toward financing the major projects of the ZOA in Israel, The event was devoted to honoring Abraham Goodman of New York, pioneer Zionist and chairman of the Administrative Committee of the ZOA, on the occasion of his 70th birthday. A plaque of tribute was presented to Mr. Goodman by Max Bressler of Chicago, ZOA president, “in appreciation of his life long devotion to the Zionist cause and his leadership in the ZOA.”
Dr. Emanuel Neumann, president of the World Confederation of General Zionists, presided. Principal speakers included former Israel Premier Moshe Sharett; Edward B. Lawson, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel; Dewey D. Stone, national chairman of the United Israel Appeal and chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc., and Max Bressler, ZOA president.
Alluding to criticism levelled against the Zionist movement by certain leaders in Israel, Mr. Bressler said that “political regimes in Israel and elsewhere come and go, the Zionist movement will remain standing guard, forever watchful, forever ready to aid when aid is needed.” He proposed the appointment by the World Zionist Congress of a Commission on Israel-Diaspora relations, composed of leading Zionists in Israel of all parties and in the Diaspora, “to strengthen and deepen the sense of interdependence between all sections of the Jewish people, both in Israel and the rest of the world.”
DR. NEUMANN URGES DRAFTING SHARETT INTO WORLD ZIONIST LEADERSHIP
Dr. Neumann urged that “the World Zionist Congress should become, in a sense, the ecumenical Congress of the Jewish people, embracing Jews of all shades of opinion professing loyalty to a common spiritual heritage.” He further urged that the “World Zionist Organization must represent the Jewish people as a whole, with Israel as the core and center of its spiritual life.”
Hailing the presence at the dinner of former Premier Moshe Sharett whom he described as one of the foremost leaders of Israel, Dr. Neumann said that “in view of the fateful problems confronting the Zionist movement, the time has come for him to resume an active role in the world Zionist leadership.” He added: “We will not merely welcome his entry into the leadership we must insist upon it and draft him even against his wish, if need be.”
Dewey D. Stone, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Inc., and national chairman of the United Israel Appeal, in an address reviewed the achievements of the State of Israel since the passage of the UN resolution 13 years ago.
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