April 24, 1953
From an article “1300 Overflow Two Historic Affairs Honoring Israel’s 5th Birthday”
More than 1300 people heard Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt this week in two bay area celebrations of the fifth anniversary of Israel’s statehood sponsored by the Israel bond organization
On Tuesday, the Gold and Nob Hill rooms of the Fairmont Hotel were filled to overflowing with an enthusiastic Northern California crowd gathered in tribute both to the “first lady of the free world” and the courageous nation of Israel.
At the banquet Mrs. Roosevelt spoke of the urgent necessity of assisting Israel. UJA’s free dollars are “important to help the flood of immigrants still coming in,” she declared.
“But it is also important for the people there to feel that we have enough faith in them to invest in bonds — that they are ready to stand on their own feet and earn their way. That gives them a sense of dignity and human worth.”
Mrs. Roosevelt pointed out that Israel bonds will finance great industrial development in the state and will be used for industrial capital, roads, and many other improvements. She paid tribute to the Israelis for having “the pioneer spirit of adventure and great hope with power to surmount great difficulties.” All of this, too, she emphasized, makes support of the bond campaign essential.
Asked about the UN’s Human Rights Covenant at a press conference preceding the dinner, Mrs. Roosevelt expressed her disappointment at the decision in Washington to withdraw consideration of ratification of it and of the Genocide conventions and the UN statement on political rights of women.
“I expected difficulties and debate on them,” she said, “but the debate would have been good for us.”
April 29, 1983
From an article “USSR Couple’s ‘Proxy Wedding’ Slated May 3 In Union Square.” The couple, David Waksberg and Ellen Bob, are still active in the local Jewish community. Waksberg is the head of Jewish Learningworks and Bob is the executive director of Congregation Etz Chaim in Palo Alto.
An unusual “wedding ceremony” will take place on Tuesday, May 3 at 12:30 p.m. in Union Square in San Francisco.
A young couple — who will have been married just a few days before — will take part in a “proxy” wedding ceremony for a Soviet Jewish couple who has never been allowed to have a Jewish religious ceremony,
The Jewish ceremony on behalf of Olga and Yuri Tarnopolsky of the Soviet Union is an attempt by the Bay Area Council on Soviet Jewry to draw public attention to their plight. The “groom” is on a huger strike in a Soviet prison cell after his March arrest for “anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda.” He could face a sentence of seven years imprisonment and five years in Siberian exile.
Standing in for the “groom” will be David Waksberg, executive director of the Bay Area Council who spent time with the Tarnopolskys last year while visiting the Soviet Union. Taking the vows for Mrs. Tarnopolsky will be Ellen Bob, owner of a Palo Alto Judaica store. The couple is being married on May 1.
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