The drives were led by Israeli leaders like David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir. It seems that all of Hollywood, Jews and Christians alike, rallied around to lend its support to the imperative cause.
Moguls like Sam Goldwyn, the Warner brothers, Selznik, etc., raised vast sums of money for the struggling new nation. $52.6 million was raised the first year alone, a tremendous amount in the dollars of the fifties.
Many film celebrities staged fund-raising events in New York and throughout the nation. These events were reported regularly and with much fanfare in the media of the day.
Today, the perils and uncertain future of the beleaguered Israeli state scarcely raises a "ho-hum" from the well-heeled in the Hollywood/LA entertainment complex. Israel still sells bonds but it's barely noticed. Today, a "fund drive" organized and participated in by the Jewish entertainment industry would undoubtedly never even get off the ground or it would be laughed off the stage.
Today's movie moguls and stars of Jewish heritage should be asking themselves, "What price fame and glory if you lose your soul?"......but, then, it appears most of them have long ago discarded their religion, heritage, traditions and roots for a mess of pottage.
Leni
In the 1950s, the Soviets saw Israel as a potential 'friend.'
The Soviets changed their mind in the 60s and began working overtly and covertly to undermine and destroy Israel.
Most of the crap they preach about Israel, "The Palastinians" and the entire Mideast even today, is nothing but rehashed KGB propaganda from the 60s and 70s.