American Jewish Organizations Express Grief over Leavitt’s Death

All major Jewish organizations today issued statements here mourning the death of Moses A. Leavitt and emphasizing the important services he performed for Jewry as executive vice-chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, national secretary of the United Jewish Appeal and treasurer of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

The United Jewish Appeal, expressing shock and grief over the news of Mr. Leavitt’s death in Geneva, said in a statement issued by Max M. Fisher, its general chairman: “As was characteristic of the man whose life has been so closely tied to the fate and future of the Jewish people, he died on active duty at a time when he should have been enjoying a happy and restful retirement after four strenuous decades of dedicated service. As the chief executive officer of the Joint Distribution Committee, a constituent agency of the UJA, he directed one of the greatest mass rehabilitation programs over conceived by a voluntary agency.”

Dr. Emanuel Neumann, in a statement issued as chairman of the American Section of the Jewish Agency, said that Mr. Leavitt “has been not only one of American Jewry’s most distinguished civil servants but also a creative force in the leadership of the American Jewish community.” He emphasized that the sudden passing of Mr. Leavitt in Geneva “will leave a void in Jewish life that will be hard to fill.”

The Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, in a statement issued, said: “In the death of Moses Leavitt we have lost a truly great public servant. His leadership during the gravest crisis in Jewish history was monumental. Countless men and women in every part of the world are alive today because of him. His courage, his integrity, his tremendous commitment to the salvation of his people, his service to humanity, were extraordinary. What he achieved should be remembered always and appreciated always in everlasting gratitude. To his family and to the officers and board of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, we extend our heartfelt sympathy.”

The American Jewish Committee said in a statement it “records with profound sorrow the passing of one of the great Jewish leaders of our age and a pioneer in alleviating human suffering and want.” The statement stressed that “Mr. Leavitt’s contributions to the work of rescue and relief are unparalleled. As a member of the American Jewish Committee and as our close friend and co-worker through many decades, he will be sorely missed.”