Former President Gerald Ford expressed the hope last night that the expected and dramatic meeting between Premier Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat would “continue the momentum which is so essential for peace and security in the Middle East.”
Addressing a State of Israel Bonds dinner in tribute to Rabbi Rafael G. Grossman, senior rabbi of the Baron Hirsch Congregation, the largest Orthodox Jewish congregation in the United States, Ford said: “I must compliment Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat for their bold move and initiative which I hope, trust, and pray will continue the momentum which is so essential for peace and security in the Middle East.”
In his address, the former President stated: “Our love of freedom and belief in the dignity of our fellow man has formed a bond between the United States and Israel so strong it cannot break and never will.”
Consul-General of Israel for the Southern States, Joel Arnon, reminded the former Chief Executive that when he was in Memphis a year ago while he was still in office, he indicated a desire to visit Israel. Ford replied: “I hope to be able to stand on Mount Scopus from which I will be able to see the birthplace of the three major religions.”
A special David Ben Gurion Award was presented to Grossman by Rabbi Pesach Z. Levovitz, honorary president of the Rabbinical Council of America and co-chairman of the National Rabbinic Cabinet of Israel Bonds. More than 650 civic, business, communal and religious leaders of Memphis attended the dinner.
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.
