Page 10 NYT: “A Passover Proclamation”
Maybe this was a standard annual call for prayer for the rebirth of Israel, I don’t know, but in the midst of a dramatic war comes this dramatic call that we know now came to fruition shortly after. Amazing times.
Throughout the war, Jewish Americans were constantly solicited for funds to help support Jews in Europe and in the Middle East. It’s interesting that this particular appeal lays out the vision of the State of Israel as a refuge for the world’s surviving Jewish people.
I read a book about Americans who were involved in providing weapons to Jews in “Palestine” after the war, in anticipation of the declaration of the State of Israel and the subsequent war. It was astounding what they were able to buy as war-surplus: tanks, planes, oodles of guns and ammo. They even bought an aircraft carrier, but couldn’t figure out how to get it the eastern Med.
The Uzi was invented during this period. One of its features was that the components could reasonably pass for non-weapons machinery items for shipment and then be easily assembled at the destination.
Before World War II, American Jews were very divided on the idea of Zionism-- some thought European Jews would be safer coming to the US than trying to form a new country amid hostile surroundings. This message seems to show that all of the warring factions of American Judaism have now agreed that a Jewish state in Palestine is essential.