Philadelphia's Jewish Community Remembers Shimon Peres
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The passing of former Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres is stirring memories far and wide, including Jewish leaders in the Philadelphia area.
Peres received the Liberty Medal in 1996 for his efforts to bring peace to Israel and her neighbors, first as a militaristic hawk and later as a diplomatic dove.
"He was a big thinker and a creative thinker," Naomi Adler, CEO at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, told KYW Newsradio.
"He was one of the only people who could think of creative solutions that would be appropriate for both Israel and, at the time, its enemies."
She also recalls how Peres would often visit the Delaware Valley, and encourage local Jews to look to Israel as their second home.
"He brought the stories of Israel, He brought a love of Israel and he confirmed for many that Israel would live on and that it was up to them to take personal responsibility for the growth and the strength of Israel," Adler said.
She particularly noted how Perez took great effort to impress on anyone who would listen about the importance of Israel not just to peace in the Middle East, but to the world as a whole.
