Dr. Israel Goldstein, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun and former world chairman of Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal, will mark his 75th birthday by presenting a gift instead of receiving one. His birthday gift to the congregation which he served as rabbi for 42 years from 1918 to 1960, will be a $75,000 Religious Scholarship Fund which he personally raised among congregants and friends. The fund will provide 100 free scholarships annually in the B’nai Jeshurun afternoon religious school. The congregation will rededicate the six-story Community Center adjoining the synagogue.
A religious service honoring Dr. Goldstein will be held in the synagogue on Saturday morning. September 25 and will be followed by a small reception. At that time, Dr. Goldstein will present the Scholarship Fund to Rabbi William Berkowitz, his successor in the pulpit, and to Charles H. Silver, congregation president, Dr. Goldstein’s career, spanning a period of 53 years, has encompassed a broad spectrum of activities, including the presidency of the major Jewish organizations in the United States, both of a religious and secular nature. As a committed Zionist, who played an influential role in the establishment of the State of Israel, he has made his home in Jerusalem since his retirement from the congregation at the end of 1960.
For the past decade, he has served as world Chairman of Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal, based in Jerusalem. He resigned from this post last June to devote himself to Torah – study and writing. He plans to write several books which were started and temporarily laid aside, dealing with aspects of Jewish life with which he has been associated. His 75th birthday has brought Dr. Goldstein two honors – a Doctorate in Hebrew Letters from Dropsie University in Philadelphia, his native city, and a Doctorate in Philosophy from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, his adopted city. He is the founder of Brandeis University and received an honorary degree from that institution. His book. “A Century of Judaism in New York” is considered a basic research text on American Jewry from 1825 to 1925.
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