The new 16-volume Encyclopaedia Judaica was called “a bridge between Israel and the diaspora” by Dr. Geoffrey Wigoder of the Hebrew University, its editor-in-chief, who was honored at a luncheon given here today by the American Zionist Federation. Rabbi Israel Miller, president of the AZF, who presided at the luncheon, described the work as “the most important Jewish publishing event in the 20th century.”
Dr. Wigoder said that beginning in 1973, the Encyclopaedia would issue an annual yearbook bringing it up to date. He noted that the Encyclopaedia Judaica has 25,000 articles, 8000 illustrations and 500,000 index items. Of its 2000 contributors and 300 editors, 55 percent are Israelis, 35 percent are Americans.
According to Dr. Wigoder, “This is a reflection of the fact that Israel and the US are the two centers of Jewish cultural and intellectual activities.” Honored with Dr. Wigoder was Mrs. Cecil Roth, widow of the former editor-in-chief of the Encyclopaedia who died before it was completed.
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