Life

Throwback Thursday: Teenage Ambassador to Israel

By Chana Pollack January 16, 2014

Welcome to Throwback Thursday, a weekly photo feature in which we sift 116 years of Forward history to find snapshots of women’s lives.

In 1952, Carole Frances Asnin of Brooklyn won the New York City-wide “Share Your Birthday” contest promoting “intergroup understanding.” The contest was organized by El Al along with Mrs. Elizabeth Heller’s “Share Your Birthday Plan” which encouraged American youth to send one of their birthday gifts to a less fortunate child overseas. The 15-year-old at Cunningham Junior High School won a 10-day trip to Israel as “Teenage Good Will Ambassador” and stayed at a children’s “village.” In the photo snapped just before Asnin’s send off, American children are wearing costumes featuring nations of the world and are bidding her farewell. Prior to leaving, Asnin was feted by her classmates with a tea at Brooklyn’s famed Abraham & Strauss Department Store.

Chana Pollack is the Forward’s archivist. Contact her at [email protected].

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