In spite of the existence of a “massive indifference” toward books of a serious character dealing with Zionism, Israel and general Jewish subjects, there is in this country, “an unsatisfied thirst for knowledge even on the part of second and third generation Jews,” Dr. Emanuel Neumann, chairman of the Herzl foundation, declared here today at a luncheon celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Herzl Press.
The occasion was marked by the publication of “Coming Home,” a memoir by Rahel Yanait Ben-Zvi, widow of Israel’s late President, the 72nd title issued by the publishing house which is devoted to works on Israel, Zionism and Jewish culture.
“There are young Jews in growing numbers, “Dr. Neumann said, who are “reaching up into the intellectual stratum, not content with easy, superficial reading, who want to delve more deeply in their quest for knowledge and the meaning and implications of Jewish identity.”
Dr. Raphael Patai, editor of the Herzl Press, said that the publishing house “is dedicated to the avowed purpose of the strengthening of mutual understanding between Israel and America and between the people of Israel and American Jewry.”
Other speakers at the luncheon included Ambassador Katriel Katz, Consul General of Israel; Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Zionist Organization; and Dr. Judah J. Shapiro, secretary of the National Foundation for Jewish Culture.
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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.
