50,000 to Celebrate Israel’s Anniversary at Polo Grounds in New York

The biggest celebration in the United States of Israel’s 10th anniversary will be held at the Polo Grounds here on Sunday with the participation of more than 50, 000 people. Speakers will include representatives of the Protestant and Catholic churches, as well as leaders of public life and organized labor. Spokesmen for Israel will be General Moshe Dayan, former Chief of Staff of the Israel Army, and Ambassador Abba Eban.

Diplomats of many countries, Including Soviet representative Arkady A. Sobolev and U.S. representative Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge Jr, attended an Israel tenth anniversary reception last night tendered by Mr. Eben, head of the Israel delegation at the United Nations. Leaders from a wide variety of Jewish organizations also attended. The participants extended congratulations to Mr. Eban and expressed best wishes to Israel.

A thanksgiving service marking the anniversary was held this morning in Congregation Shear it Israel synagogue, oldest in New York. arranged by Israel Consul General Simcha Pratt. The synagogue was overcrowded with leaders of various Jewish groups. Leaders of major Jewish organizations issued statements congratulating Israel on its anniversary and pledging support for the development of the Jewish State.

The board of directors of the Jewish National Fund of America, at a special Israel Tenth Anniversary ceremony launched a “Ten Trees for Ten Years of Israel” program, under which every Jew in the United States will be asked to plant ten trees on Israel’s soil in honor of the Tenth Anniversary of the Jewish State. The ceremony was addressed by Simcha Pratt, who was the guest speaker. Speeches were also delivered by Dr. Harris J. Levine, JNF president, Louis Segal, member of the Jewish Agency executive, and Mendel N. Fisher, executive director of the Jewish National Fund of America.