Page 16—Supplement to The Jewish News—March 16, 1973

Year of Commemoration

Address at the Opening Ceremony of the 25th Anniversary of Israel's Independence

By PRESIDENT ZALMAN SHAZAR

The first 25 years of Israel's
ciating afflictions that our people ever independence have witnessed a sequence of wonders. After the inost excru-
suffered in its tragic exile, it was our grace and good fortune to gain free-
dom in our
homeland
and
witness
the
coming
of a million and four hundred thousand Jews from all ends of the
earth—brands plucked from the flames of the extermination
camps
dismayed by fear of spiritual extinction in affluent countries. They of Europe, brothers grieving in Arab lands, others
have returned thirsting for redemption, deter-

mined to take their part in the herculean effort to build a free Jewish society in the historic homeland. Our people
have ceased to be stateless; Israel has become its heart and anchor of salvation in hours of political, economic
spiritual
or
distress throughout this quarter of a century.

In 'festive days let us recall our kin, prisoners of hope in the Soviet Union, exemplary in their heroic
struggle
and devotion; let us recall the tragic remnants of our communities in Arab lands. We are one with them in their
suf-
fering and strife, as in their hope and faith. Be strong and of good courage, brethren, for the day of salvation must
be at hand, and the unity of our concern gives assurance of the final victory of justice.
This is
a year of commemoration. Nine decades have passed since the first steps toward the return to Zion
were taken by the pioneers whose settlement on the soil turned merchants into farmers and unploughed fields into
green pastures. Seventy-five years have passed since the Zionist Congress at which Theodor Herzl and his
raised the banner of political revival—the banner that, enlarged and diversified, is still our beacon in all colleagues
that we
build, materially and spiritually. May these noble anniversaries inspire and strengthen us to go further and deeper
in our quest for national rebirth.

In this twenty-fifth year of Israel's existence, may all of Jewry be united around the State! May they come
as pilgrims
from all the lands of our dispersion and celebrate with us the festival of our freedom
and the redemp-
tion
of
our
spirit,
in gratitude to the Rock and Redeemer of Israel and in acceptance of the commandments
of crea-
tiveness and revival!

May this year be
our State's very existence for all of us a time of return to, a time of emphasis upon, the moral values on which
is based—a year of unity, of spiritual and social renewal, bridging perilous and
raising backward groups, eliminating
inequities born of the haste with which we have
rebuilt and
our of
lives!
May it be
a determined
year of fulfillment of the biblical verse, "Love the truth and peace," within our people,
a systematic.

search for peace with our neighbors!

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