The cornerstone of the Jacob H. Schiff Centre, Valentine Avenue near F6rdham Road, the Bronx, was laid by Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Straus. When samuel Untermyer, the principal speaker, called “the two greatest living Jews”.
Almost 1,000 persons braved the cold air and drizzling rain While an elaborate program of speeches and music was being presented. County Judge Louis Gibbs presided, and there were addresses by Rabbi Jacob Kohn of Temple Ansche Chesed, Abraham Lerman and Maxwell L. Sacks.
“Jacob H. Schiff lived in the public eye almost all of his life”, said Mr. Untermyer. “He was an outstanding figure not only in the financial world but in civic and public affairs. He was a world figure.
“They say we Jews are clannish. It is true, and I hope it will remain true until conditions change. We are not clannish from choice. We are not willing to be received on sufferance or with reservations. Until the time comes when social barriers are so completely destroyed that we can mingle among men and women of all creeds and races without thought of distinction, we must needs remain clannish and cling to our own if we would preserve our self respect.
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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.