Mr.pincus Called a Bridge-builder at Memorial Meeting

Louis A. Pincus was described here Friday as a bridge-builder between Jewish communities throughout the world, as a man of selfless devotion to the cause of Zionism, and as a person who displayed a remarkable capacity to bring together individuals and groups of differing views and establish harmony between them. These tributes were paid by Jewish leaders at a memorial meeting in the auditorium of the Jewish Agency building attended by more than 200 people who came to pay their last respects to the world Zionist leader who died in Israel last Wednesday at the age of 61.

Simcha Dinitz. Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, said Mr. Pincus.was a bridge-builder from his early days in the Habonim Movement in his native Free Orange State in South Africa and from the moment he came to Israel. “He built links and bridges between Jews everywhere. Dinitz said. “He travelled all over the world to bring the Zionist message to Jews not only in large communities but in small communities as well. In Israel he built bridges between the. various communities, Some are remembered for what they said, Louis will be remembered for what he did.”

Mrs .Rose ?.Halprin, a former chairman of the American Section of the Jewish Agency and a past president of Hadassah, presided at the memorial service. Describing Mr. Pincus as totally devoted to the cause of Zionism, she noted that he was the first Western-born and educated Jew to become a world Zionist leader and to play an influential role in Israel.” He met Jews everywhere, from continent to continent, from mind to mind,” Mrs. Halprin said. “He felt especially at home with American Jews. We meet here today to recall the sense of bereavement that has come to all of us. We are overcome by the overwhelming realization that Louis is no more. He is gone.”

FULFILLED DUTIES WITH GREAT ENERGY

Dr.Emanuel Neuman, who also served as chairman of the American Section and is a past president of the Zionist Organization of America, said Mr. Pincus “took to his duties with great energy. At times he overdid it.Dr.Neuman noted that the late Zionist leader “had the capacity to understand other points of view” and this “enabled him to build a bridge and make it easier for others to join the Zionist movement.” This capacity, he added, was of immense value in reconstituting the Jewish Agency.

Pinchas Cruso. honorary president of the Labor Zionist Alliance, observed that “Pincus. was the first non-European Jew, born and raised in one of the new diasporas, who was elevated to the highest position of world Zionist leadership.” He noted that Mr. Pincus “never pretended to be a theoretician or an ideologue, but as a practical visionary he helped to mould and strengthen the Zionist movement. His major achievement was the creation of the reconstituted Jewish Agency.” Cruso added that Mr. Pincus had a high regard for the American Zionist movement and he “never associated himself with the views of some Israelis who criticized American Zionists for not going on aliya,”

Rabbi Max Schenk recited the “Prayer of Moses,” and Cantor David Tilman of the Park Avenue Synagogue chanted the traditional El Mole Rachamim. The service, sponsored by the American Section of the World Zionist Organization, was held to coincide with the burial of Mr, Pincus in Jerusalem on Mt. Herzl.