Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Abraham A. Ribicoff was honored tonight for his efforts in connection with the resettlement of refugees seeking haven in the United States and other lands of freedom at a testimonial dinner at the Hotel Pierre for the benefit of the current campaign of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York.
In addition to honoring Secretary Ribicoff, the dinner was also the occasion for a tribute to two outstanding leaders in philanthropy–Edward M. M. Warburg. now honorary chairman, and formerly general chairman, of the nationwide United Jewish Appeal, and Dewey D.Stone, a UJA national chairman.
The more than 300 guests at the dinner announced contributions amounting to more than $750,000 toward this year’s general UJA campaign, and to the Opportunity Fund which UJA established to meet an increase in the needs of its beneficiary agencies arising from an upsurge in migration of Jews to Israel, the United States and other democratic countries.
Presiding at the dinner was Murray I. Gurfein, leading New York attorney. The evening’s speakers included Monroe Goldwater, president of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York; Edwin Rosenberg, chairman of New York UJA’s executive committee, and Jack D, Weiler, a chairman of New York UJA’s trustees.
Mr. Goldwater discussed the strains on UJA which result from the drastic increase in current Jewish migration. He cited the situation in France, where at least 30, 000 Jews have come from North Africa in the past five months, bringing the total of Jewish refugees for 1961 and 1962 to 50,000. Despite liberal assistance by the French Government and the French Jewish community, the number receiving help from the Joint Distribution Committee has soared to 38,000, twice the figure of a few years ago.
Secretary Ribicoff was presented by Mr. Rosenberg with a Bible printed in Israel and bound in silver by Israeli craftsmen. Its flyleaf bears this inscription: “Presented in appreciation to the Honorable Abraham A. Ribicoff for outstanding devotion to the vital work of assisting refugees to find freedom and security.” Messrs. Stone and Warburg were presented by Mr. Gurfein with large silver salvers.
The sum of $1, 000, 000 was pledged for the United Jewish Appeal yesterday at the 23rd annual luncheon of the Council of Organizations of the UJA of Greater New York composed of 7,000 landsmanshaften and other groups. A total of $100, 000 was raised in cash at the luncheon which was addressed by Aryeh Pincus, treasurer of the Jewish Agency.
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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.
