The State of New Jersey today acclaimed Professor and Mrs. Albert Einstein at an elaborate allday testimonial in which 10,000 persons participated.
Following weeks of preparation by a committee of notables headed by Governor Moore, the program for the day, featuring a concert in the 113th Infantry Armory and a reception later, proceeded on schedule with the scientist, a modest and smiling center of attention, appearing to be somewhat surprised over the fuss. A dinner in the evening concluded the day’s activities.
Arriving from Princeton, where Dr. Einstein has been engaged in research at the Institute for Advanced Studies, the guests of honor were received by a cordon of Newark police headed by Chief of Police James McRell and Deputy Chief John Harris. The party proceeded to the Armory where the concert got under way promptly.
In his address, which was read in German and later in an English translation by Rabbi Julius Slloerfeld of Temple B’nai Abraham, Dr. Einstein paid tribute to the religious freedom of the United States.
“We notice with deep gratitude that in this land the sense of justice, humanitarianism and tolerance is still alive. So long as such traditions are rooted in the people, we need harbor no painful worries about its future healthy development.
EXPRESSES HIS GRATITUDE
“Deeds of noble philanthropy do not only bring blessings to those to whom help and new possibilities for living are given, but react mainly upon those from whom this help emanates. For working together, for noble aims, create that communal spirit upon which rests the blossoming and permanence of every community. I thank all those who have contributed to the success of this day’s humanitarian enterprise.”
Governor Moore said in part:
“Many of you have no conception of the Einstein theory. Neither have I, But I do know that the world has acclaimed this remarkable savant for his humanly sympathetic nature and childlike trust and faith. I deem his friendship one of my priceless possessions.”
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver who came by plane from his home in Cleveland, said:
“He has always brought defense and courage to a defenseless people and has stood true and tried to the classic tradition of justice and reasonableness which the new barbarism is threatening to inundate in our day.
THE STANDARD BEARER
“He represents the classic view of life, a standard bearer wise and intrepid, fighting for all of us in the struggle for liberalism against extinction.
Rabbi Julius Silberfeld of Temple B’nai Abraham here recited the invocation, and Rabbi Reuben Kaufman of Paterson, president of the New Jersey Rabbinical Association, pronounced the invocation at the dinner.
The concert artists included Mme. Ernestine Schumann-Heink, who arrived from the coast to sing at the affair, Giovanni Martintelli, tenor, and Ossip Gabrilowitsch, pianist.
EXTOL SCIENTIST
In the evening the famous couple repaired to the Mosque Ballroom where speakers, including Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, who flew from Cleveland, Ralph E. Lum, prominent non-Jewish lawyer of this city, and Mayor Harry Bacharach of Atlantic City, extolled Dr. Einstein for his “great work both as scientist and humanitarian.”
Seated on the dais were a group of notables, among them Governors of several states, public leaders, scientists, educators and writers.
Proceeds from the sale of tickets, which were priced at one to five dollars, and dinner tickets at twenty-five dollars per couple, will be used to find posts in Palestine for Professor Einstein’s exiled German colleagues. A substantial sum was realized.
The Governor’s reception committee included Mayor Bacharach, Mayor Meyer C. Ellenstein of Newark, Louis V. Aranson, Louis Bamberger, Chester I. Barnard, Senator W. Warren Barbour, Paul Block, Dr. Robert C. Clothier, Edward D. Duffield, Walter E. Edge, Mrs. Thomas A. Edison, Colonel J. Lester Eisner, Abraham I. Elkus, Philip Forman, Mrs. Felix Fuld, Dr. Lillian M. Gilbreth, Michael Hollender, Senator Hamilton F. Kean, Dr. Jacob G. Lipman, Thomas N. McCarter, Alfred J. McCosker, Mrs. Dwight W. Morrow, Joseph B. Perskie, Edward W. Scudder, J. David Stern and David T. Wilentz.
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.
