(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
Queen Marie, her son and daughter, were the guests of the First Roumanian Congregation Shaarei Shamaim, on Sunday. Crowds filled the synagogue hours before the royal party arrived. Thousands lined the sidewalks and streets for blocks along which the party was to come.
The Queen and her family stood while the Zionist hymn, Hatikvah, was played and the congregation sang. In her address the Queen called the Jews a “dear part” of the Roumanian people.
Speaking in Roumanian, B. J. Braunstein, president of the congregation welcomed the party and introduced Mayor Dever of Chicago. The latter characterized the occasion as a unique meeting, one which would impress the visitors with the character and dignity of the audience. “Jews,” he said, “are an asset to the city. Chicago knows what it means to have the Jews here.
“This is an opportunity,” the Mayor declared, “for the Queen to see how Roumanian Jews get along in Chicago.”
Judge Harry M. Fisher declared that the presence of the royal party among Jews indicated an interest “in our welfare.” “We do not forget our brothers in your land.” he said. “When the opportunity comes to serve our coreligionists, of those of your land, we consider it a privilege. All of us are willing to extend aid when we are called on.
“We pray that your land will always prosper, and we feel certain that under your government our people will benefit by any prosperity there. We ask you to take home with you a message of good will.”
Henry Friend, wearer of the medal of the Chevalier conferred on him by the Roumanian Queen, expressed in his address the hope that they would take back to their homeland inspiration of “love, peace, harmony and equality, such as we enjoy, a God-given birth-right of peace and equality under the protection of the American flag.” He presented Her Majesty with a resolution of welcome from Roumanian Jews of Chicago. The Queen then responded declaring:
“I am very happy to be in a Jewish community. I will take home the news and the loyal way in which you received me here today. It will be a great satisfaction to the King who believes you a very dear part of his people. Remember that is said by the Queen herself.”
Mrs. Fannie Goldenberg, president of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the congregation presented the Queen with a houquet. On the Reception Committee were: A G. Feldman, M. E. Greenelaum, Julius Rosenwald, Judge Henry Homer, Judge Joseph Sabath, Judge Hugo Pam, Judge Hugo M. Friend, judge Joseph W. Schulman, Max Luster, Emanuel Eller, Samuel Heller, M. Mendelson, Judge Samuel Altschuler, Congressman A. J. Sabath, Michael Rosenberg, Jacob M. Arvey, Mitchell C. Robin, B. Horwich, Ph. Ginsburg, Samuel Pincus, Milton Foreman, S. J. Rosenblatt. Samuel Phillipson, Dr. V. L. Schrager, Charles Rubens, Adolph Copeland, Harry A. Lipsky and Max Adler.
Three hundred Communists, carrying incendiary banners derogatory to Queen Marie and the Roumanian Government, injected into Chicago’s welcome to the Queen a feature not included in the plans which she approved for her reception, an Associated Press despatch from Chicago states.
“Down with Roumanian terrorism,” “down with Queen Marie, oppressor of Bukowina and Bessarabia,” and “2,500 political prisoners rot in Roumanian jails,” were among the inscriptions which the Communists carried.
King Ferdinand has asked Queen Marie to return to Bucharest by Christmas and she has cancelled most of her Southern tour in order to sail from New York December 11, instead of December 24.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
