On the eve of the Six Day War, there was a national state of emergency in Israel and a sense of pervasive fear. Israel needed every bit of help it could get. On May 20, 1967, Keren Hayesod announced an emergency campaign and sent special emissaries abroad. In this difficult hour, Keren Hayesod once again discovered that world Jewry responded to its pleas. Unending queues of donors lined up in front of Keren Hayesod offices in major cities.
The tremendous response was extremely moving. In Canada alone, $25 million was collected two days before the outbreak of the war. Jews from all sectors of the population contributed to the campaign in different ways. Some sold jewelry; others mortgaged their homes; communities and synagogues sold property; children in orphanages contributed the money for their weekly visit to the cinema; teachers gave a month’s salary.
Everyone wanted to give, to express solidarity with the beleaguered State of Israel. Among the donors were also many well-known artists and actors, including Peter Sellers, Danny Kaye, Arthur Rubinstein, Marc Chagall and Serge Gainsbourg. Keren Hayesod collected a total of $151 million. The joint effort of Keren Hayesod and the Jewish Agency for Israel proved once again that the State of Israel and Jewish communities around the world are inseparable and that the bond between them is stronger than any threat.
Photo: Collage of photographs from the Six Day War