Alexander Kahn, Noted Leader, Greeted by Kennedy on 80th Birthday

President Kennedy today sent a message of congratulations to Alexander Kahn, general manager of the Jewish Daily Forward, largest Jewish daily newspaper in the world, lauding his role in American and Jewish public life on the occasion of his 80th birthday which Mr. Kahn will observe this Wednesday at his desk in his office.

“I sincerely hope that the example you have set in contributing to the progress of our community and country will be followed by many, ” the President’s message said. “Our democracy is stronger and our future brighter because of men like yourself. “

Messages of congratulations were received by Mr. Kahn from many leading organizations and personalities in this country and abroad, including Israel. There were messages from Israel President Izhak Ben-Zvi, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, Foreign Minister Golda Meir and others. Messages from leading Americans included congratulations from Governor Rockefeller, former Senator Herbert H. Lehman, Arthur Hays Sulzberger, chairman of the board of The New York Times, and others.

Mr. Kahn, who was one of the founders of the Joint Distribution Committee, has been vice-chairman of the JDC since 1923. He has been a member of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, one of the top leaders of the National Labor Committee for Israel, a board member of the United Hias Service, and an active leader of other Jewish groups. He is also one of the top leaders of the Liberal Party and a member of the Federal Communications Commission. He was born in Smolensk, Russia, and came to the United States in his early youth. He is a member of the New York Lawyers Association and Washington Bar Association. His wife, Sara, is an active leader of the Pioneer Women, a Zionist Laborite women’s organization in this country.