Vol. XMH—No. 37
Publication Office, J'll No. 201li St. Omaha, Nuliruska, I'huiie 'M2-1MM
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v^w Seventeen years ago, on this very day, the world witnessed the miracle.of our age. Out of the crematoria of Buchenwald, out of the gas chambers, of Auschwitz, out of the agony of a tortured and almost annihilated people, the State of Israel came into being. Throughout the 17 years of its existence, the Stale has demonstrated its vitality and has justified its establishment. It has taken into its midst more than a million Jews, fleeing from oppression, haired and persecution. Its gates are still open to all Jews who need a home and a haven. It has brought to the world a new concept of human dignity and has become a model and a pattern for emerging nations to follow. It has given the Jews throughout the world a new dimension, a new stature, and the world itself sees in Israel a dynamic society, built along the lines of social justice and human aspirations. Omaha Jewry bad its share in the restoration of Israel, and its absorption of more than a million refugees. Through our help, given generously over the years to the United Jewish Appeal, those who were disenfranchised yesterday became free men in their own state. Right now, Omaha is in the midst of the United Jewish Appeal Campaign, to raise funds which are of supreme importance to some G0,000 Jews who will enter Israel this year. This is an hour of grave danger and decision for Israel. The support and strength of every Jew in Omaha is urgently needed to help the state and its 2,500,000 Jews survive. We, of the Jewish Community of Omaha, salute the State of Israel, and express our resolution that in the 19G5 Jewish Philanthropies Campaign, under the leadership of Leo Eisenstatt, Omaha Jewry will once again demonstrate its faith in Israel and its future. Milton It. Abrahams, President Jewish Federation of Omaha
As the State of Israel enters upon the eighteenth year of its new life, its Government sends greetings to Jewry throughout the world. May the eighteenth year of Independence be one of life for the nation, one of consolation, of aliya and of construction, Security of Israel The second decade of the revival of the State is approaching its end; we should direct our gaze towards what lies beyond it. Again, it will be our duty, first r i and foremost, to ensure the security of the State, the wellb e i n g of its inhabitants, the integrity of its frontiers and waters, the protection of its standing among the nations. By virtue of the self-defensive strength of the State, its economic and spiritual resources, with the aid of its mighty partnership with the people of Israel everywhere and with friendly countries in all parts of the world, wo shall guarantee the continuing realization of the vision of the Ingathering of the Exiles, the homecoming of brethren and the development of the Land. We will lift our eyes to all the great Jewish communities on earth and call upon them to . , „ , , • Lcvi identify themselves in actuality, EsliUol by settlement in Israel, with the strengthening of our historic and self-rer.svving Homeland. We will extend our help to them, as far as our capacity allows, to invigorate their own independent and national lives in an attachment to the people of Israel in its Land, to the Hebrew tongue, and to-the cultural and social values of a nation that has won back its independence.' Soviet Jewry Chief among our thoughts on this Day of Independence will be the great Jewish community in the Soviet Union. Its severance from the body of Jewry and from the current of its national creativity rends the heart of every one of us. We shall ask and hope that the Soviet Union make it possible for the masses of the House of Israel within its bounds to join in the upbuilding of the future of the Jewish people in its Homeland and to live full Jewish lives in nearest touch with all the other congregations of Israel, Our covenant with the entire Jewish people is today, as it always was, the very basis and foundation of our; reconstruction. Let us pray that the coming years shall be years of strengthening of that covenant, year3 of its supreme and complete expressionmass aliya to Israeli All my blessings go out to you! Lev! Eslikol, I'rinie Minister State ot Israel Israel Independence Day IOCS
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Trie It came on May 14, 1940. In the small auditorium of the Tel Aviv Museum, the leaders of the Jews of Palestine solemnly proclaimed the independence of reborn Israel. Flanked by the members of the Provisional Government of the State, Ben Gurion, the man who was to become Prime Minister, read the "Proclamation of the Rise of the State of Israel." Many wept, remembering the 20 centuries long road of homelessness the Jewish people had traversed. Appropriately, the ceremony concluded with the pronouncement of the traditional blessing: "Blessed art Thou O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us in life, and preserved us and enabled us to reach this time "
—Jewish Agency Phofo.
David Ben Gurion, with Moslic Sharrctt al his side, signs the document proclaiming Israel's independence.
The celebration of Independence Day in the State of Israel must necessarily bring reflected pride to every Jew in the world. It is impossible to express to what degree the independent existance of Israel reflects the age old pray-, ers and hope of the Jewish people. In our time, the greatest blessing we can ^ask for our brethern in Israel as indeed for the entire world, is the blessing of p e a c e , for we know that only in a setting of security can men reach the fullest potential of their creativity. Our community joins hearts with our'fellow Jews everywhere in saluting the State of Israel on the 17th anniversary of its independence, and expressing the hope that from out of Zion may come the example of justice and peace that will be a light to the world. Rabbi Sidney II. Brooks, President Synagogue Council of Omaha
Sec Page 4 for pictorial review of Israel
A Background Report Arab voices are both praising and blaming Tunisian President Bourguiba for proposing n negotiated end to the 17 year Arab-Jewish deadlock in Palestine. Mr. Bourguiba's Arabworld critics argue that the Bourguiba plan constitutes de facto "recognition" of the Jewish state, something most Arab leaders bitterly oppose. The Tunisian President's supporters reply that all Mr. Bourguiba wishes to do is revive constructive world discussion of an issue that has not progressed for 17 years. Israel Comments Israeli Deputy Premier Abba Eban rejected Mr, Bourguiba's proposal as an attempt to put together an egg broken 18 years ago. The Bourguiba Plan The Bourguiba plan which is splitting the Arab world and at the same time placing Israel in a difficult position to accept "peaceful negotiations" is this: Bourguiba proposes a return to the United Nations' 1047 partition plan. Israel would have to give up about a third of its territory to a Palestine Arab state and accept the "return" of tha Arab refugees. V. N. Portltlon The United Nations partition (Continued on Page 4.)
ISRAEL: THEN AND NOW Tunisia's President Bourguiba lias proposed Arab-Israel negotiations for peace In the Middle East. In essence, Mr. Bourguiba proposes ag prerequisite to any negotiations, a return to the United Nations partition plan of 1947. (Map on the left.) Tlio Palestine War of 1947-48, in which six Arab states invaded (he newly established Jewish State, was concluded by an armistice* which gave Israel an additional 1,415,093 acres. (Map on (ha right.) This, Israel would be asked to surrender to the Arab refugees.