Zionists Planning Ways of Marking Israel’s 30th Anniversary World-wide

While the public debate rages here over the government’s plan to hold a military parade as the focus of Israel’s 30th Independence Day celebrations, a committee of World Zionist Organization Executive members chaired by Avraham Shenker is quietly planning less controversial ways of marking the event throughout the Jewish world.

Shenker, chairman of the WZO’s Organization and Information Department, says it is still premature to speak of specifics–especially since his committee has not yet discussed its ideas with representatives of the government.

(Cabinet secretary Aryeh Naor has been appointed by Premier Menachem Begin “coordinator” of Independence Day preparations. The issue is scheduled for discussion at the first meeting of the government-WZO joint board which Begin has pledged will meet regularly every two months.)

IDEAS ON THE DRAWING BOARD

In general terms, Shenker outlined the following ideas that have been mooted:

*The opening of the 29th Zionist Congress, slated for Feb. 20, 1978, will serve as the official opening of Israel’s 30th anniversary celebrations both in the country and around the world.

*Coincidentally with the Zionist Congress, a world Jewish identity event would be organized, with all the major Jewish organizations participating Begin asked to arrange for groups of their members to attend. These “solidarity groups” would be invited to the Zionist Congress public sessions.

*Traveling caravans purveying the message of Israel and Zionism would be sent out to some 150 Jewish communities throughout the world. The caravans would be rented in the various countries, and they would be manned by singers, dancers, scholars, speakers, and the latest in audio-visual aids. They would head for medium and small-size communities and would spread the word in the languages of the target communities. The communities would cooperate by arranging for public appearances by the various members of the caravan teams.

WILL INVOLVE TOTAL ZIONIST MOVEMENT

*Parallel to the Zionist Congress, but not necessarily simultaneously, a world congress of Jewish youth would be held in Jerusalem. Communal and synagogue bodies worldwide would be expected to cover the cost of sending young delegates to this congress.

*An international quiz, along the lines of the traditional Independence Day Bible Quiz, on the subject of “One Hundred Years of Aliya and Hityashvut” (settlement), to coincide with the centenary next year of Petach Tikva, the first Jewish agricultural settlement will be held.

*The number of seminar-tours of Israel organized by various overseas Jewish organizations should be “doubled and trebled” during the 30th anniversary year, Shenker said. The WZO must act as an encouraging factor in precipitating this.

*A traveling exhibition on 30 years of Israel to tour the world, is being mounted, especially on composes.

These are ideas involving the “total” Zionist movement, Shenker noted. But within the WZO each department is already at work readying its own projects, in its own particular ambit.