A special “gomel” blessing was recited for President Ford during Rosh Hashanah services at a Sephardi synagogue in Ramat Gan after the President narrowly escaped a possible assassination attempt in Sacramento, California Friday. The benediction, traditionally offered by a Jew who averts disaster, was given by Moshe Levi, an importer, who has been corresponding with the White House about Israel’s need for American backing.
Ford had a pistol pointed at him by Lynette Fromme, Identified as a member of the Charles Manson “family,” while mingling with crowds in the California capital. A secret service agent disarmed the women before she could fire. Levi said that since Ford is a non-Jew he cannot recite the “gomel” blessing for himself and Levi decided to offer the prayer for him. He said his letters to the White House were answered by a letter which stated that America is committed to ensure the existence of Israel.
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.
