Jewish Leaders Mourn Pincus’ Death

Leaders of the Jewish community both here and abroad expressed grief and shock at the death of Louis A Pincus. They declared that his indefatigable efforts on behalf of Zionism, Soviet Jewry, and Jewish education strengthened world Jewry and inspired other Jewish leaders.

Mrs. Charlotte Jacobson, chairman of the American Section–World Zionist Organization, termed him “the most influential non-governmental figure in Israel.” She noted that” under his direction, the Jewish Agency administered the expenditure of the hundreds of millions of dollars annually raised by the world Jewish community for the immigration, absorption and welfare of the more than one and a half million settlers in Israel since the birth of the State a little over 25 years ago.”

Mrs. Jacobson, who is also a member of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency Board of Directors, stated: “No man was more thoroughly conversant with the entire diaspora, particularly their relationships to Israel. In every sense he was truly the outstanding world Jewish leader…a tireless worker, who never spared himself, he literally died in the service of his people, no less than a soldier on the field of battle,”

Jacob Stein chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said that Mr. Pincus’ “selfless dedication to the cause of Jewish freedom and cultural enrichment strengthened all of diaspora Judaism.” He noted that Mr. Pincus “inspired leaders of world. Jewry to intensify their educational efforts and strengthen the bridge of relationships between Israel and their communities.”

PEERLESS IN DIRECTING SERVICES

Raymond Epstein. president of the Council of Jewish.Federations and Welfare Funds, and vice-president of the JTA, said Mr. Pincus’ leadership “was peerless in directing the manifold services of the Jewish Agency through the tumultuous years of the past decade, especially in the tremendously increased burdens the Agency has carried since 1967. He was architect, together with Max Fisher, of the reconstitution of the Jewish Agency, bringing world leadership into the governing bodies to help shape the policies and programs, and to bring the benefits of world expertise to meeting the human needs in Israel.”

David M. Blumberg, B’nai B’rith president, who last month was elected co-chairman of COJO, observed that Mr. Pincus was “a purposeful Jew who was bold in his views, aggressive in his leadership, and resolute in his commitment to the unity of the Jewish people.” Rose E. Matzkin national president of Hadassah, said that he “holds a place in Israel’s history and in our hearts. His loss leaves the Jewish world impoverished.”

Michael M. Sacher, chairman of the Joint Palestine Appeal and chairman of the London Committee of JTA, said the death of Mr. Pincus “is a loss to the Jewish world and an immeasurable blow, coming at a time of momentous change in the Jewish world.” Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress, extolled him for “assuming with me and my colleagues an increasing share of the responsibilities for Congress activities. The Jewish people, the Zionist movement and the World Jewish Congress lose in him one of the most devoted leaders.”

The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, over the signatures of Lord Janner of Leicester, president, Abraham Kramer, chairman and Sidney L. Shipton, general secretary, stated that the death of Mr. Pincus constituted a “grievous loss” for the “totality of the Zionist and Jewish world.”

William M. Landau, president of the JTA, described Mr. Pincus as “one of the outstanding Jewish leaders whose work for Israel and world Jewry is legendary. He contributed greatly toward instilling and deepening Jewish and Zionist consciousness. His contributions will be missed by all.”

PERSONIFIED FINEST IDEALS OF ZIONISM

A joint statement issued by Rabbi Israel Miller, president, and Mrs. Max Schenk, chairman of the Executive of the American Zionist Federation, said Mr. Pincus “personified the finest ideals of Zionism and strengthened the ties between Israel and diaspora Jewry. His visionary dynamism motivated the effective union of Zionists and non-Zionists in the Jewish Agency and its gigantic humanitarian and educational endeavors.”

Elmer L. Winter, president of the American Jewish Committee, described Mr. Pincus as an “illustrious son who spent so much of his boundless energy in seeking to strengthen the ties of Israel and Jews the world over.” Richard Maass, chairman of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, said “his compassionate and intelligent persistence in our common efforts to aid Soviet Jews will be greatly missed.”