6000 Persons in ‘walk-with-israel’ Raise an Estimated $200,000

An estimated 6000 persons took millions of steps Sunday over two 18-mile routes on Chicago’s North Side and its southern suburb during the sixth annual “Walk-With-Israel” held to celebrate Israel’s 29th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. Ribbon cuttings at the two Chicago ceremonies also officially marked the start of the first national “Walk-A-Thon Sunday” sponsored by the United Jewish Appeal in Jewish communities across the United States and Canada.

The Chicago “Walk,” which was sponsored by the Chicago Jewish Youth Council and the South Suburban Jewish Community Center in cooperation with the Young People’s Division of the Jewish United Fund (JUF), raised an estimated $200,000 for the JUF-Israel Emergency Fund. That sum brought the total for the six years of walks to over $1 million, according to Walk co-chairmen Matzi Weiss and Zachary Dropkin.

Abraham Kovalsky, 91, probably the oldest participant, completed 13 miles before tiring in the mid-80 degree heat. Albert P. Mitnick, 70, one of the oldest participants to complete the walk route was sponsored for nearly $10,000. Lisa Lieberman, 15, who was sponsored by her grandmother, Mrs. Elqine Frank, a vice-president of the JUF and Jewish Federation boards, managed to walk nearly two miles on crutches following knee surgery.