Leaders from all walks of Jewish life today attended funeral services at Temple Emanu-El for Henry Monsky, president of B’nai B’rith and chairman of the Interim Committee of the American Jewish Conference, who died here of a heart attack on Friday. Mr. Monsky’s body will be sent to his home in Omaha tomorrow, where funeral services and burial will take place on Wednesday.
Five prominent rabbis officiated at the services in Temple Emanu-El, paying tribute to the many contributions Mr. Monsky made to Jewish and non-Jewish communal activities during the past 20 years. The rabbis were: Stephen S. Wise; Israel Goldstein; Maurice Eisendrath, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Samuel H. Goldenson of Temple Emanu-El and David Wice of Newark, N.J.
Among statements mourning the passing of Mr. Monsky issued yesterday and today by many national Jewish organizations were the following:
Louis Lipsky, chairman of the executive committee of the American Jewish Conference, declared that Monsky “was a man dedicated to moderation, fair dealing and the democratic way of life, not only in American affairs, but in Jewish life as well. His influence was always on the side of the highest interests of his people, for which he sacrificed time and means all his life. He brought with him to the support of the cause in which he was interested, the strength and influence of B’nai B’rith, which owes a great deal to his unselfish devotion as its leader for a decade. The whole American Jewish community mourns his untimely death.”
Judge Joseph M. Proskauer, president of the American Jewish Committee, stated that “the news of the death of Henry Monsky brought to the membership of the American Jewish Committee a sense of profound shock and grief. We have been closely allied with him and his organization in community work. His death means to us a great personal loss and to the community, a great tragedy.”
Rabbis Stephen S. Wise and Irwing Miller, president and chairman of the American Jewish Congress, said that “the American Jewish community has sustained a grievous loss with the passing of its greatest leader and most faithful son, Henry Mansky, foremost in the struggle for the defense of the rights of Jews and the cause of Jewish survival. Loyal to his Jewish heritage and profoundly dedicated to the service of America, he will be mourned by men of good will the world over.”
The National Executive Committee of B’nai B’rith stated: “The Supreme Lodge of B’nai B’rith mourns the loss of its great president and leader who died as he lived–in the service of his people and all humanity. His memory is a blessing to the 350,000 men, women and youths of B’nai B’rith who knew him as a wise statesmen, a devout Jew, and a loyal American. To American Jewry he was the symbol of far visioned leadership; to Americans generally, he was an active proponent and leader in many causes in the best interests of democracy and social welfare; to people everywhere he was a fighter for human rights and human dignity. His memory will be an inspiration to countless men and women of all faiths.”
The United Jewish Appeal said that it “mourns with deep sorrow the sudden death of a distinguished leader of American Jewry and a tireless and devoted force for the betterment of all mankind. His constant and inspiring devotion as honorary chairman of the United Jewish Appeal to the cause of the Jewish people everywhere will be long remembered and revered.”
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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.
