Thousands of Jews from the Johannesburg area turned out at a number of functions here to give a rousing welcome to 40 crewmen and officers of the Israel frigate Misgav, the first Israel naval vessel to pay a goodwill visit to South African ports.
The Israel contingent, led by Commander J. Vishinsky, flew here from the port of Lourenco Marques. The largest crowd turned out at Balfour Park here yesterday. During Sabbath services rabbis in all the synagogues in this city and surrounding towns preached sermons on the visit of the Israelis. Saturday night the seamen were guests of honor at a ball tendered by Zionist youth and Sunday they attended a series of youth rallies in their honor.
The crest of the Israel town of Askelon was presented today to the South African Askelon Council by an officer of the Misgav crew, at a reception for the crew members at Johannesburg’s City Hall. The crest was presented in recognition of the interest of South African Jewry in developing the Askelon area, which is Israel’s rapidly developing film center and a tourist haven. After this reception, which capped a large number of parties for the crew by various Jewish groups, the Israel seamen left to rejoin their vessel.
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