May 16 1948
Dear Grace,

Forever will I be grateful to you and my partners for the chance of being here during these crucial and wonderful days.
How can I describe last Friday's event to you?
Last night at 2:00 A.M. the final decision of the Agency was taken. Thursday, I spoke with our Secretary of Commerce,
Fritz Bernstein. Kaplan had described him very well to me as a fine quiet scholarly gentleman. I think it will be a pleasure working with him. Had lunch with Dr. Bart and 3 other directors of the Anglo-Palestine bank. The discussions were about general world politics, none of us being any the wiser for it. In the afternoon, I paid a visit to Mr. Feuchtwanger, head of the Jacob Japhet bank, an old acquaintance of Ernst's who worked under him for years, The eighteen year old daughter of his second wife volunteered as telegraphic clerk for Kfar Etzion. I am sure you can imagine with what anxiety every parent and Jew feels about every individual case. When I saw him, the fate of Kfar Etzion was not yet sealed, Since then the outcome has been announced.
Practically every one in Kfar Etzion has been killed except the girls, The red cross saved all the girls and the wounded from other places around Kfar Etzion. The boys have been made prisoners of war. The news of Kfar Etzion had a terrible saddening and sobering influence on the mood of the masses celebrating Independence day,
After Feuchtwanger, I paid a visit to Rassco. The head of this building company, a subsidiary of the Agency has just been made Food Controller and I will probably have quite a lot to do with him (Dr. Foerder) in the future. I had a meeting there with an able young man named Stern who is the secretary of Rassco and in the absence of Foerder is in charge.
Ameic has just completed a substantial deal with a subsidiary of Rassco's - meat import from USA and we discussed future possibilities.
The next morning was the day! Friday, the 14th!
Shapiro had arranged that the Proclamation of Independence would be made at 4:00 P.M. instead of midnight when the British rule ended to avoid the possibility of "Chillul (desecration of)" Shabbat. He had also successfully fought for the inclusion of two religious phrases in the declaration. Do you know what it meant when the Hashomer Hazair and the Communists signed that they believe in "Zur Yisrael Vegoalo"!! Do you know what it meant when the representatives of the Agudah, with the authorization of all the Chassidic Rebbeim signed the same declaration with the Shomer Hazair and a representative of the communists? Has it impressed the Jews and Goyim in USA
sufficiently that ALL segments of the Yishuv had signed this declaration!! I am so thrilled that my report is slightly incoherent.
On Sunday I was to have a meeting with Bernstein and Kaplan where my work would be clearly defined and the necessary authority and organizational form found,
In the meantime, he gave me certain things to attend to and suggested meetings with various officials. Returning to the hotel, I dressed for the official reception. I must say that as critical as I had been of the lack of historic dignity of the Action Committee's meeting, I was thrilled by the PERFECT dignified setting of the first official state act. It took place in the Tel Aviv museum, At 4:00 P.M. sharp the room was filled. The ministers had taken their seats.
Ben Gurion rose to read the Declaration of Independence. Rabbi Fisherman followed by reciting the "Birkat Shehecheyanu"
Then Ben Gurion read the first government decree canceling the restrictive clauses of the British White Paper.
I cannot put into words my feelings at this moment, the first in close to 2000 years the Jewish people unilaterally tore up laws made for or against them by foreigners. Hatikva - finis!
We left the building and a guard of honor stood at attention. When Ben Gurion's car passed by the assembled masses applauded. Dignified from beginning to end!
Friday night Shapiro and I were invited to Chava Cohen's parents. After our tea, we went to the Movie house where Kaplan and Shapiro were to speak, Shapiro announced that the first 100 immigrants would be admitted now, legally, into the Jewish State and that the visa would be stamped into the passports after sundown to avoid "Chillul Shabbat"..
In the morning went to the big shul where Rabbi Unterman disappointed me with his speech arguing about religious observance when he could have just expressed his hope that the state will be based on our traditions and laws instead of stressing this question on such a day. By the way On Friday night I found deep satisfaction in the first signs of fulfillment of my prediction that Jewish life and law will be melted into one naturally.
When we left the theater, the loud speakers were blasting away that full mobilization was now to take place. The announcement was accompanied by a statement that this full mobilization had been legally sanctioned by the chief Rabbinate. It was a great Kiddush Hashem. At night, we listened to Begin's speech. It was great. He spoke like I wished our leftists would talk, He spoke with the "Ruach Hakodesh" disbanding Etzel - as he had promised, After listening I understood his hold on many people.
Friday night we were awakened by the first air raid alarm.
Shapiro woke me up and we kibitzed around for about a half hour and then went back to bed. Two hours later, someone else woke me up to tell me about Truman's recognition , No end to miracles! On Shabbat in shul the first prayers for our Jewish Government were uttered! Saturday night we rushed out to buy bonds stamped "Independence day" , Bought some for many friends. This morning meeting again with Kaplan and Bernstein and my job defined. can be called coordinator for foreign trade. Mainly questions of foreign supplies, foreign exchange
and commercial treaties. Expect to have an office soonest. All higher ups extremely cordial, particularly Kaplan showing immense confidence and personal friendliness.
Third air raid this morning. So far none have frightened me. You know I lack imagination! But my heart is crying when I look into the eyes of people whose children had been in Gush Etzion.
In a few days we expect to bomb Cairo. Maybe they will make peace with us quicker now after US recognition. If peace does come, I'll expect you here in early July. On my knees I thank God for having had the opportunity of being here now!

From Sept 1, 1948 from Herm
Meanwhile I spoke during the debate but on ideology. I said that now that the Medina has been established, the only tie with world Jewry - which at its own free will has refused to immigrate into Israel can have with the Medina can be a sentimental -mystic- spiritual and religious tie but not a nationalistic one. That the goyim won't understand a new
nationalistic slogan - (the Jewish citizens of foreign lands are still different from the Irish in their relationship to Ireland) despite the fact that now we have a foreign state.
No goyish mind will understand such a construction. Religious ties, yes, quasi nationalistic ties for people who don't want to come here, will really establish questions about "double loyalty".
No official appointment yet - Meanwhile the Chamber of Commerce declared war on me officially. I don't mind this too much since Bernstein agrees with me 100% and backs me up though it might seriously affect his own political future,
Newspapers are daily filled with my name -pro and con -