Photo: Chairman of the United Jewish Appeal in the USA, Edward Ginsberg, during a speech marking Keren Hayesod’s jubilee in New York, July 1970
Keren Hayesod jubilee celebrations began in the spring of 1970, with the issue of a new stamp dedicated to Keren Hayesod and its main areas of activity – immigration, absorption and settlement. In addition to the stamp, a new medallion was issued in honor of the occasion, and 13,000 of them were distributed. The first medallion was given to Prime Minister Golda Meir by the chairman of Keren Hayesod at that time, Dr. Israel Goldstein. As part of the festivities, in July of that year a special session of the Knesset was held. The following day, a concert was performed by the Israel Symphony Orchestra in Binyanei HaUma (the Israel Convention Center) in Jerusalem, conducted by Zubin Mehta, with the participation of Daniel Barenboim and some of the world’s finest musicians. At the same time, more and more streets across Israel were named for Keren Hayesod, and festivities were held around the world to mark the occasion. Keren Hayesod published a review of the funds it had raised to date – the staggering amount of $1.6 billion – which was used to strengthen Israel through construction, education, social welfare and culture. And now another fifty years have passed.
Prime Minister of Israel Golda Meir (1969 – 1974) looking at the medallion given to her during Keren Hayesod’s jubilee celebrations
Photo: The stamp issued in honor of Keren Hayesod’s jubilee in 1970, showing KH’s three main mission areas: immigration, absorption and settlement