200 Scholars Honor Editor of New 15-volume Encyclopedia Judaic__

Declaring that “the publication of a wholly new Jewish Encyclopedia in the U. S. is an expression of the cultural fruition of American Jewry.” Dr. Nahum Goldmann, world Jewish leader, today introduced Dr. Cecil Roth, noted historian, to 200 scholars and communal leaders at a reception in his honor at the Croydon Hotel as chief editor of the new Encyclopedia Judaica.

Dr. Goldmann, president of the World Zionist Organization and the World Jewish Congress, is the honorary president of the Encyclopedia Judaica. U. N. Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg is the honorary chairman of the Foundation’s International Board. Jim Novy of Austin, Texas, is the Foundation’s president; Rabbi Isadore Breslan, of Washington, D. C., and Jacob L. Barowsky, of Holyoke, Mass., vice-presidents; Edward Adams, of New York City, treasurer; Joachim N. Simon, of New York, secretary, and I. J. Carmin Karpman, executive director.

Pointing out that the world’s leading international authorities, from 35 universities, are now writing and editing the most comprehensive presentation of the living heritage of Judaism, Dr. Goldmann announced that Prof. Alexander Altmann of Brandeis University and Prof. Benzion Dinur of the Hebrew University are co-chairmen of the Encyclopedia’s editorial board, and Prof. William F. Albright of Johns Hopkins University is chairman of the editorial council.

“In our century the U. S. and Israel have emerged as the two greatest Jewish centers of culture and creativity, and it is only fitting that the new Encyclopedia Judaica is being compiled by 400 scholars in the centers of Jewish survival,” Dr. Goldmann said.