Celebrating 80 years ...

Jewish Western Bulletin editor Abraham Arnold was writing his third Travel Diary by the week of May 29, 1959. His first column was from New York, the second from London, England, and this one to the right described his arrival in Israel. Not being able to find accommodation in Tel Aviv, Arnold was staying in Ramat Gan. Among his first impressions was that, “most governments who do not officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel maintain their embassies in Ramat Gan” and that, even in Ramat Gan, “where green things abound, and it is known as the garden city, the achievements in terms of tree-lined streets and boulevards, flower and vegetable gardens, have only come about through very strenuous efforts. The soil of Israel is obviously sandy and not the kind of rich, black earth we are accustomed to in Canada. It is also obvious, however, that the people have developed a much greater regard for the soil and, from childhood on, Israelis are taught the value and importance of carefully nurturing the land.” Arnold also wrote in his May 29 column about the Histradut (trade union) election campaign, which was coming to a close, and about a sightseeing trip to Tel Aviv-Jaffa, where, among other things, he saw much new construction and attended an agricultural fair, as well as a performance by a “male group of song-comedians, described as a French-style quartet.”