President Eisenhower paid tribute last night to the Yiddish-language press in the United States, declaring that “as the Yiddish-language newspapers tell the facts without fear or favor, they add strength to the national community.”
In a special message to a dinner in honor of the Yiddish press at the Commodore Hotel at which more than $750, 000 for the economic development of Israel was provided by 700 civic, cultural and religious leaders, Mr. Eisenhower expressed his “pleasure to join in a salute to the Yiddish press. ” The Israel bond dinner accorded tribute to the editors and publishers of the Jewish Daily Forward and the Day-Jewish Journal, the country’s two oldest Yiddish language daily newspapers. Guests of honor were: Alexander Kahn, general manager, and Hillel Rogoff, editor-in-chief of the Forward; Morris Weinberg, publisher of the Day-Jewish Journal, and David L. Meckler and Solomon Dingol, editors.
Simcha Pratt, Consul General of Israel, who was one of the principal speakers, said: “The Yiddish press has helped in the effort to develop Israel’s economy, industry and communications and to assist Israel in bringing in and absorbing hundreds of thousands of immigrants. It is highly appropriate that the Yiddish press should be honored in behalf of State of Israel bonds, the principal means for the provision of capital needed to establish Israel’s economy on firm foundations. “
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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.