Leaders from all walks of Jewish life attended the funeral services today for Dr. Bernhard Kahn, vice-chairman and former European director of the Joint Distribution Committee, who died this week at the age of 79. He was eulogized by Paul Baerwald, JDC honorary chairman, and Dr. Jonah B. Wise, vice-chairman.
Statements mourning the death of Dr. Kahn were issued by all major Jewish organizations, including the JDC, United Jewish Appeal, Palestine Economic Corporation, Jewish Agency, ORT, OSE and other institutions and organizations with whom Dr. Kahn had been closely associated. Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the Jewish Agency, said:
“The passing of Dr. Bernhard Kahn has aroused profound sorrow throughout the Jewish world. Dr. Kahn was a member of the Jewish Agency executive from 1929-1931. He served for many years as European representative of the Joint Distribution Committee and had been, throughout his lifetime, one of the foremost social workers in European Jewry. He possessed deep understanding, and was a brilliant administrator with a deep sense of social responsibility, inspired by profound sympathy for the sufferings of his fellow Jews. His most lasting contribution was the saving of Jews from the clutches of Nazism during the horrible decade.”
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