Funeral Services for David Bressler Today; Jewish Groups Mourn Passing

Funeral services for David M. Bressler, long a leader in Jewish welfare work, will be held in Temple Emanu-El here tomorrow morning. Mr. Bressler died of a heart attack yesterday afternoon.

The Joint Distribution Committee, of which Mr. Bressler was a vice chairman, issued the following statement mourning his death, under the signatures of Paul Baerwald and Joseph C. Hyman, honorary chairman and executive vice-president, respectively, of the organization: “David M. Bressler was one of the oldest and most devoted leaders of the Joint Distribution Committee. His sudden passing is a severe blow not only to the officers and directors of the Committee, who counted him as a close personal friend, but also to the cause of American help to Jewish war victims. As a member and active leader of the J.D.C. from its earliest beginnings, Mr. Bressler helped to shape the vast programs of war relief, and later post-war reconstruction, which our Committee undertook. He was in-variably sober in judgement and farseeing in his vision. He gave unstintingly of his time and energies for the welfare of his fellow man. On several occasions he undertook survey trips to Europe to investigate at firsthand the conditions of Jews abroad. The recommendations which he made upon his return were sound and displayed great qualities of sympathy and understanding. During the course of the years he served as a campaign chairman for our organization on a number of occasions. In this capacity, his sincerity and persuasiveness won many adherents to the humanitarian program of the J.D.C. All of us, mourn and shall miss him.”

The American Jewish Committee, in a statement by its president, Maurice Wertheim and its general secretary, Morris D. Waldman, paid tribute to Mr. Bressler who had been a member of the organization’s executive committee. The statement reads: “Mr. Dressler’s passing is a great less to the American Jewish community, which he served with loyalty and distinction for more than four decades. His humanitarian interests were varied, embracing as they did immigrant welfare -wherein he pioneered – overseas relief, the defense of civil rights for all people regardless of race or creed, and public welfare. These interests were naturally prompted by a strong religious spirit that was reflected also in his long activity in synagogue affairs. To all of these activities he devoted his time and energy unstintingly and often at great personal sacrifice.

“For the past twenty years, Mr. Bressler was closely identified with the work of the American Jewish Committee, first as a Corporate Member, and, since 1925, as a member of the Executive Committee. His broad understanding of communal problems, his vision and sound judgement stood the American Jewish Committee in good stead. With his passing our country has lost a useful and patriotic citizen and the Committee a valuable co-worker and beloved friend.”

William Rosenwald, president of the National Refugee Service, of which Mr. Bressler was a director, said: “David Bressler helped thousands of newcomers to America to take up our way of life and become good Americans. He was a pioneer in this work. As director of the Industrial Removal Board from 1900 to 1907, he helped in directing the flow of Jewish immigrants from the eastern seaboard to small communities in the South and Far West which provided excellent opportunities for Americanization. Out of the knowledge he gained in this venture he was able to give invaluable service to the National Refugee Service in carrying out its resettlement program.”