This year, NJCRAC joins the entire world Jewish community in the celebration of the Centennial of the modem Zionist movement. August 1997 marks the 100th anniversary of the convening of the First World Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, when the World Zionist Organization was founded in 1897.

Zionism has proven to be one of the greatest and most successful revolutions in history. It has transformed an ancient dream into a modem political reality which changed the course of Jewish history, restored the Jewish people’s national identity and established a independent Jewish state which would serve as a “light unto the nations,” a model society based on the Jewish values of justice and morality.

Theodor Herzl’s dream became reality fifty years later with the declaration of independence of the State of Israel in 1948.

We urge the entire American Jewish community to join with the people of Israel in celebrating these two momentous occasions in a year in which we face with renewed hope the distinct possibility that Israel and Zionism will have achieved their long quest for the peace and security of the Jewish people.

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