Greetings on the occasion of the seventieth birthday of Adolph S. Ochs, chairman of the Five Million Dollar Endowment Fund of the Hebrew Union College, were extended yesterday by Alfred M. Cohen, chairman of the Board of Governors of the College, and Dr. Julian Morgenstern, president of the Faculty of the institution.
Mr. Ochs’ activities in behalf of American Judaism were commended in both messages.
“The career of Adolph S. Ochs is a romance in real life,” Mr. Cohen decdared. “In no other age and in no other land than ours would it have gotten farther than in a novel. From newsboy to the responsible headship of the greatest newspaper in the world, and all accomplished without aid save that which he gained through his own ever expanding genius-a spark from the divine fire, is a tale as captivating as was-ever told by the most imaginalive writer of stories for boys, and as if to add to its thrill, it is the life story of one who has never tried to hide the fact that he is a Jew.
“As Adolph S. Ochs has climbed, rung by rung, the ladder of fame and fortune, his love for his fellowmen has increased more and more. No human concern is alien to his thoughts.
“Unlike so many of co-religionists in his profession, with added years his zeal for the perpetuation of Judaism liberated from the dross of mediaevalism and adapted to the environment in which the Jew is the equal, in the eye of the law, of his non-Jewish fellowcitizen, has heightened so that we find him on his seventieth birthday the leader of a movement to endow the Hebrew Union College to the extent of five million dollars, and he and his fine wife heading the list of contributors with a gift of one-twenty-fifth of the goal.
“There is something really touching in his deep interest in the Hebrew Union College, bearing in mind that he is the son-in-law of its unforgettable founder, Dr. Isaac M. Wise. Sons of rabbis sometimes follow in the footsteps of their fathers, but rare indeed are instances of sons by marriage who are zealous followers of the religion of the father.
“If. from the academy on high, is given the beloved and immortal founder of the Hebrew Union College the privilege of witnessing the growth and development of the creation nearest his heart while on earth, great must be his satisfaction in beholding the part assumed by this noble son in making possible that growth and development.
“The memorial in the form of a temple and temple center building for his own parents in their old home in Chattanooga, which is being dedicated almost simultaneously with the attainment of his seventieth birthday, is added testimony to his filial devotion and Jewish loyalty.
“There are few men playing a larger part in world-wide affairs than Adolph S. Ochs. His newspaper conforms with his own clean and useful life. It has set a high standard in journalism which happily many an emulating.
“Would that there were more Jew like him. Would that there were monmen like him.
“On his seventieth anniversary ever Jew and Jewess in the United State and elsewhere join the people of a creeds and nations everywhere greetings and congratulations, and wishing that his fine career may be prolonged for a least another scon of years,” Mr.Cohen concluded.
In his tribute, Dr. Morgenstern said “Mr. Adolph S. Ochs must be recog nized by all as one of the foremos Jews of the present generation not onl in America but throughout the world Through high ideals, indefatigable ? forts and uncommon wisdom and but iness ability he has unquestionable made his paper the most influenti jounal in the world. Through it ? has set the very highest standard ?journalistic ethics. Through the ? umns of his paper and through ? contacts with statesmen and leader of America and other lands he has exerted a world-wide influence which has helped to shape the policies ? nations. He has contributed liberall? of his wealth and even more of ? valuable time to innumerable worth? causes making for human welfare and progress and the promotion of know? edge and right living. He has born? himself ever as a Jew. with loyalty and with dignity. He has never denie? his Judaism nor qualified it in ? way. Neither has he obtruded it ? duly nor brought it into light esteem But the has never failed to let it ? felt that Judaism is a potent influence in his life, that it has helped to shape his beliefs and motivate his deeds that its interpretation of life is ? interpretation, and he has even striven to live in accordance with these prin? ciples. Through all this he has brought honor to Judaism and to Israel. The authorities of the Hebrew Union ? lege are particularly grateful to him for his fine, generous and well-con ceived service of raising an Endow ment Fund for it of five million ? lars. This is with him a labor of love prompted not only by his affectionate regard for the memory of his illustrious father-in-law. Rev. Dr. Isaac M. Wise founder of the Hebrew Union College but also and even more by his devotion to Judaism and his conviction as to the role which the Hebrew Union College must play in the upbuilding of a living and inspiring Judaism in America.
“It is a privilege to pay tribute to him upon his seventieth birthday as one of the most devoted friends which the Hebrew Union College has, as ? faithful son of Israel and as a noble man. May God prosper him in all his labors and grant to him length of days in which he may reap in happiness the harvest his hands have sowed.”
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.
