A Dream Comes True
On May 14, 1948, at midnight in Jerusalem, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the independence of Israel. Eleven minutes later, at 6:11 p.m. in Washington, President Truman announced the United States’ recognition of the Jewish state—helping to guarantee Jews worldwide a cultural home and spiritual center.
Washington Jews celebrated with thanks and jubilation. An exuberant crowd gathered at the Jewish Agency building at 2210 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, as the new flag was raised. They spilled out the door onto the lawn as they sang, danced, and prayed.
We had a beautiful time. We cried and we danced and we cried. Oh, they must have had several hundred people in the street.
Fannye Rose Oral History, 1981, JHSGW Collections
Flag-raising at the Jewish Agency building on Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
Copyright The Washington Post. Reprinted with permission.
1948: Members of the Zionist youth group Habonim danced the hora at the Washington celebration of the new State of Israel.
JHSGW Collections. Gift of Judith Bernhardt. 1998.38
