Several thousand persons crowded into B’nai Jeshurun Synagogue today to pay homage to Dr. Hayim Greenberg, outstanding Zionist philosopher and member of the Jewish Agency executive, who died last Saturday after a prolonged iliness. Hundreds of others who could not get into the synagogue, filled the block outside the building.
Although marked by simple rites, the funeral was one of the largest most impressive in recent years. Services were conducted by Rabbi Robert Gordis, of the Jewish Theological Seminary. In accordance with the last wishes of Dr. Greenberg, no eulogies were delivered, but Psalms 103, 23 and 42 were read as were Job, chapter 28 and Isaiah chapter 1. Also in accordance with his last wishes, a song by the Russian poet Lermontov–“I Am Going Alone on the Road”–was sung in a Yidish translation by the well-known baritone Sidor Belarsky.
The Israel Government was represented at the services by three members of the Cabinet: Golda Myerson, Dov Joseph and Dr. Peretz Bernstein. The Jewish Agency executive was represented by its American members, led by Mrs. Rose Halprin, acting chairman, in the absence of chairman Dr. Nahum Goldmann, who is now abroad. The Israel Consulate staff was headed by Minister Arthur Lourie. Dr. Greenberg was buried at Cedar Park Cemetery, New Jersey.
Pall bearers included Zvi Lurie, Benjamin G. Browdy and Gottlieb Hammer, representing the Jewish Agency, and Louis Segal, Meyer Brown, Benjamin Teller, Pinchas Cruso, Abe Balfour, Isaac Hamlin, Jacob Katzman and S. Bonchik, representing the Labor Zionist movement. Messages of condolence were received from Jewish and non-Jewish leaders, intellectuals, educational institutions and Jewish communities in Israel, Europe, Canada, Latin America and cities throughout the United States.
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.
