Funeral services for Israel Matz, noted Hebraist and Zionist, who died at his home here late Friday, were held here today. Mr. Matz, who was widely known for his support of numerous philanthropic and Zionist causes, particularly Hebrew cultural and literary projects, was 81.
Founder and president of the Ex-Lax company, Mr. Matz came to the United States from Lithuania as a young man. He was descended from a long line of scholars, rabbis and writers, During his life time, Mr. Matz became closely associated with President Chaim Weizmann of Israel, Prof. Albert Einetein, the late Supreme Court Justice Louis De Brandeis and other notables.
Mr. Matz made many trips to the Near East and built a large orange plantation in Israel. The author of many articles dealing with Hebrew literature, he set up the Israel Matz Foundation to aid needy Hehrew writers and scholars in the United States. He was the publisher of the Hebrew periodical, Hatoren, and founding pation of the Hebrew monthly, Bitzaron.
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