Leading Jewish organizations today lauded the services of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in messages congratulating the JTA on the 25th anniversary of its existence as the only news agency serving as a link between Jews in all parts of the world.
Maurice Wertheim, president of the American Jewish Committee, said in his message: “The twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the JTA is an event of importance in Jewish life. It marks the end of an uninterrupted period of distinguished service in the gathering and dissemination of news affecting Jews throughout the world. During the past quarter of a century, unfortunately a period of great upheavals and catastrophe for Jews, the work of the JTA in keeping open vital channels of communication during this epochal era is a signal contribution. The American Jewish community as a whole is in its debt. My very best wishes to the JTA for many more decades of notable service.”
Morris D. Waldman, executive vice-president of the American Jewish Committee, in a congratulatory statement declared: “The JTA is an amazing achievement. Conceived and undertaken by a Viennese youth with a one-pound note in Amsterdam, it has grown under the management of Mr. Jacob Landau into a great institution, the value of whose services is universally recognized. I have learned to respect the resourcefulness, high intelligence and dependability of its correspondents. These men like Boris Smolar and Victor Bienstook have developed a tradition of journalism that is on a level with that of the ablest correspondents of other leading news agencies and metropolitan dailies. On the basis of my intimate knowledge of its work, I can emphatically repeat what Louis Marshall said to me fourteen years ago. “If there were no Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the Jewish Community would have to create one.’ My warmest wishes for continued usefulness.”
Edward M. M. Warburg, chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, wrote: “I am very glad to join in congratulating the JTA on the twenty-fifth anniversary of its establishment. I regard the JTA as an essential source of information for anyone interested in the affairs of Jews throughout the world, and I have nothing but admiration for those whose labors in the past twenty-five years have made its continuing good work.”
Joseph C. Hyman, executive vice-chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, said in his message: “I congratulate the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on the occasion of its twenty-fifth anniversary. During this entire period, it has rendered invaluable service. Especially now at a time when the entire world is engulfed in war, the JTA makes for a clearer understanding of the plight of Jews in overseas lands. Not only does it report Jewish news, but it interprets Jewish life to the non-Jewish world. Please accept my very best wishes for the continued success of your constructive and helpful activities.”
William Rosenwald, president of the National Refugee Service, sent the following message: “The National Refugee Service takes pleasure in commending the fine record of achievement of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on this auspicious occasion, the twenty-fifth anniversary of its inception. As a world-wide news service, it has been of inestimable value to the community, not only as a speedy source of accurate and impartial information but also as an instrument for the interpretation of Jewish life to the world at large.”
Henry Nonsky, B’nai B’rith president, in expressing his congratulations declared: “The bulletins of the JTA have served a useful purpose in providing those who participate actively in the execution of the programs which minister to the problems of our people, authentic and timely information, so essential in these days when we are confronted with a world scene which undergoes such important changes from day to day.”
I. M. Minkoff, executive secretary of the General Jewish Council, extending his congratulations, said: “One active in Jewish affairs today must have intelligent and comprehensive information about Jewish life the world over. Without such knowledge no constructive work can be carried on either in the field of civic protective activities or in the field of relief. The JTA, whose extensive service embraces Jewish life over all parts of the globe, has become an important factor in our daily struggle.”
William J. Shroder, chairman of the Board of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, congratulating the JTA on its record of twenty-five years of service, declared: “During this period the JTA has established itself as a unique and valuable instrument in furnishing prompt, accurate and impartial information to the Jewish communities of the United States. The value of this service to the protection of Jews throughout the world is apparent to all. One of the great needs in American life is understanding by all groups of the cultural problems and respirations of the other groups. Not of the least valuable of the by-products of the JTA activities is that it furnishes a factual basis of understanding of Jewish difficulties and aspirations to the non-Jews.”
H. L. Lurie, executive director of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, stated: “The course of organizing programs dealing with Jewish problems here and abroad is profoundly affected by the trend of events and by the day-to-day occurrences throughout the world. A knowledge of these events and an understanding of their significance are basic to the processes of organized Jewish services. The general press and other media for public information and communication present general news and news concerning Jews as gathered and interpreted from a general and occasionally from an unsympathetic point of view. Frequently, coverage of news of special Jewish interest is inadequate. A special news-gathering service directed primarily to the collection and distribution of news affecting Jewish populations here and abroad furnishes an important supplement to our understanding of general events. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency, marking twenty-five years of activity, is the recognized agency serving this field.”
George Z. Medalie, president of the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies of New York, wrote. “Those of us who receive the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc. Daily Bulletins have come to rely upon them as an indispensable prerequisite for keeping thoroughly informed on matters the world over. In the quarter of a century just rounded out by this Agency, it has made phenomenal progress, covering every area of information and many that are virtually inaccessible to other sources. It has been a tragic twenty-five years for Jews the world over and humanity’s most critical period. More than ever today we need the JTA’s up-to-the-minute service in keeping ourselves informed of the-catastrophic changes now going on and which challenge us to Herculean effort as we begin none too soon to plan for reconstruction. Your enterprise deserves the high regard in which it is universally held, and I wish for it continuing and increasing usefulness.”
Frank L. Weil, president of the Jewish Welfare Board, stated in his message of greetings: “The work of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is invaluable in its collection and distribution of news items concerning the activity of Jewry in this country and elsewhere. The Jewish Welfare Board relies greatly upon the service.”
Louis Kraft, executive director of the J. W. B., congratulating the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, said: “I am glad to testify to the great value of the JTA as a Jews service essential to the intelligent planning of major activities on behalf of he Jewish community.”
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.
