Page 77 - big friday
P. 77
The scroll itself is made of parchment, approximately six hundred millimeters in length.
A special pen, extended to each of the members of the Council, was used for signing. The
first signatory was Mr. D. Ben-Gurion, followed by the other members of the Government
and of the Council. When Mrs. Golda Meyerson arose, there was prolonged applause.
There was also special applause for Mr. M. Shertok, who spread his hands and asked that
it be halted; afterwards he signed.
A ltogether there were 25 people who signed the Scroll then and there – 24 men and
one woman, Mrs. Meyerson [this is a mistake – Rachel Kagan also signed]. Twelve people
were absent from the ceremony, either because they were out of the country or because
they were cut off from Tel Aviv. Among the signatories there were members of the Council
representing the Revisionist Party, who had not voted for the text of the declaration at the
session of the People's Council.
A t exactly 4:31pm – in other words, 31 minutes after the opening of the ceremony – the
sound of HaTikva being performed by the members of the Philharmonic Orchestra was
heard. That moment was a most profound experience for the audience. When the sounds
of the national anthem died down, many people hurried to the dignitaries' table to shake
hands with Mr. D. Ben-Gurion and the members of the government. Calls of "mazal tov"
sounded from all corners of the hall. Many of the Zionist veterans, their hair white with
national toil, embraced and kissed each other.
T hus ended the episode of the proclamation of independence.
T he crowd outside cheered
Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, the members of the Government and of the
Council exited the hall. When Mr. D. Ben-Gurion appeared outside, the great crowd, which
had crossed over the barricades, began cheering. "Long live the State of Israel!"; "Long live
David Ben-Gurion!" There were calls from time to time as members of the government
appeared on the stairs leading from the museum to the street. Several photographers took
pictures of what was going on in the street.
The crowd awarded Mr. Moshe Shertok an enthusiastic reception. They surrounded
him on all sides and almost did not allow him and his wife to enter the car awaiting them
below. They shook his hand, and many voices called out, "Thank you for the Jewish state
that you have given us! It is good that you came to celebrate with us!"
After Mr. Shertok was extricated from the crowd around him, he headed for the nearby
home of his sister, the widow of the head of the Hagana, Eliyahu Golomb. The crowd
accompanied the car to Golomb's house and waited outside. All the time there were calls,
"Shertok! Shertok!" Mr. Shertok was forced to come out to the crowd and he said a few
words: "All beginnings are difficult. If we have begun, we will succeed!"
O nly after that did the crowd disperse.
A State is Born 75
A special pen, extended to each of the members of the Council, was used for signing. The
first signatory was Mr. D. Ben-Gurion, followed by the other members of the Government
and of the Council. When Mrs. Golda Meyerson arose, there was prolonged applause.
There was also special applause for Mr. M. Shertok, who spread his hands and asked that
it be halted; afterwards he signed.
A ltogether there were 25 people who signed the Scroll then and there – 24 men and
one woman, Mrs. Meyerson [this is a mistake – Rachel Kagan also signed]. Twelve people
were absent from the ceremony, either because they were out of the country or because
they were cut off from Tel Aviv. Among the signatories there were members of the Council
representing the Revisionist Party, who had not voted for the text of the declaration at the
session of the People's Council.
A t exactly 4:31pm – in other words, 31 minutes after the opening of the ceremony – the
sound of HaTikva being performed by the members of the Philharmonic Orchestra was
heard. That moment was a most profound experience for the audience. When the sounds
of the national anthem died down, many people hurried to the dignitaries' table to shake
hands with Mr. D. Ben-Gurion and the members of the government. Calls of "mazal tov"
sounded from all corners of the hall. Many of the Zionist veterans, their hair white with
national toil, embraced and kissed each other.
T hus ended the episode of the proclamation of independence.
T he crowd outside cheered
Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, the members of the Government and of the
Council exited the hall. When Mr. D. Ben-Gurion appeared outside, the great crowd, which
had crossed over the barricades, began cheering. "Long live the State of Israel!"; "Long live
David Ben-Gurion!" There were calls from time to time as members of the government
appeared on the stairs leading from the museum to the street. Several photographers took
pictures of what was going on in the street.
The crowd awarded Mr. Moshe Shertok an enthusiastic reception. They surrounded
him on all sides and almost did not allow him and his wife to enter the car awaiting them
below. They shook his hand, and many voices called out, "Thank you for the Jewish state
that you have given us! It is good that you came to celebrate with us!"
After Mr. Shertok was extricated from the crowd around him, he headed for the nearby
home of his sister, the widow of the head of the Hagana, Eliyahu Golomb. The crowd
accompanied the car to Golomb's house and waited outside. All the time there were calls,
"Shertok! Shertok!" Mr. Shertok was forced to come out to the crowd and he said a few
words: "All beginnings are difficult. If we have begun, we will succeed!"
O nly after that did the crowd disperse.
A State is Born 75
