Dr. Osias Thon, president of the Polish Tarbuth, prominent Jewish member of the Polish Parliament, chief rabbi of Krakow and member of the Greater Actions Committee of the World Zionist Organization, was enthusiastically greeted by more than 1,500 Jews at a reception in his honor, held Monday evening, January 21 in Cooper Union.
The meeting which was the inaugural of Dr. Thon’s campaign for funds for the support of the Tarbuth schools in Poland as well as a reception in his honor, was opened by Philip Wattenberg, president of the Galician Federation, who in turn introduced Rueben Brainin, renowed Hebrew and Yiddish writer, the chairman of the meeting. Mr. Brainin presented Dr. Thon, whom he characterized as the greatest advocate of a reunited Israel.
Dr. Thon, in an address which was enthusiastically received, said that he was moved to come to America for three main reasons. First, to become acquainted with the Jews of America, who he said were assuming the greater share of the burdens of World Jewry: second, to raise money for the Tarbuth schools of Europe which are threatened with extinction unless funds can be had at once; and third, for the Keren Hayesod. Dr. Thon spoke in both Hebrew and Yiddish.
Other speakers of the evening were Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, who lauded Dr. Thon for his past accomplishments and wished him success in his mission to this country; Rabbi Hirsch Masliansky, Bernard Semel, N. Ribalov and J. Rudavsky.
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