A grateful ward of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum believed he could best repay his debt to society by becoming a teacher. At the age of twenty his aspiration seemed certain of fulfillment when he was appointed a teacher in the religious school of the orphanage. Soon, he thought, he was to become a teacher in the New York educational system.
But because he was little more than five feet tall, a Board of Education examiner ruled that he couldn’t become a teacher, that his physical limitations would preclude the maintenance of classroom discipline. The young man —he was then twenty-three years old—now turned to a position in the office of the American Jewish Committee, as assistant to the secretary.
HIS FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY
Yesterday, on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday, leaders of American Jewry paid tribute to Harry Schneiderman and praised the unknown Board of Education examiner who was responsible for giving the American Jewish Committee its assistant secretary.
About fifty associates of Schneiderman gathered yesterday at the Hotel Vanderbilt at a luncheon in his honor. Among those present were Professor Morris Raphael Cohen of City College, who presided; Dr. Solomon Lowenstein, executive director for the Jewish Federation of New York; Professor Alexander Marx of the Jewish Theological Seminary; Jacob Landau, publisher of the Jewish Daily Bulletin and managing director of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency; Isaac Asofsky, executive director of HIAS; Dr. Robert Ashworth, education secretary of the National Conference of Jews and Christians; Lionel J. Simmonds, superintendent of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum; David A. Brown, publisher of the American Hebrew; Herman Bernstein, former United States Minister to Albania; Dr. Mordecai Soltes of the Jewish Welfare Board; Rabbi J. Max Weis of the American Jewish Committee; Sidney Wallach and George Britt.
DR. ADLER’S MESSAGE
Dr. Cyrus Adler, president of the American Jewish Committee, in his message to Rabbi Wise explaining his inability to attend the luncheon, said:
“I do not recall anybody who, over the same period of years, has progressively and untiringly served the cause of the Jewish people as he has, and I want you to wi## him in my name many more years of health and strength.”
Other messages were received from Arthur Hays Sulzberger of the New York Times, David M. Bressler, Morris D. Waldman, Jacob L. Billikopf, James Marshall. Henry Ittelson, Colonel Benjamin F. Berman of Cincinnati and Benjamin Stolz of Syracuse.
The message from Dr. Billikopf, a son-in-law of the late Louis Marshall, with whom Schneiderman worked when Mr. Marshall was president of the American Jewish Committee, stated:
“My father-in-law would have been delighted to take part in the dinner to be given to you on your birthday. You have certainly rendered wonderful service and without blare and trumpets.”
PROF. COHEN’S TRIBUTE
Professor Conen, who stated he qualified for the post of toastmaster because he is a former instructor of Schneiderman, said: “My heart goes out to the man who does his work day in and day out.
He further paid tribute to Schneiderman’sa work as editor of the American Jewish Yearbook.
Dr. Ashworth, bringing a message from Dr. Everett Clinchy, director of the National Conference of Jews and Christians, paid tribute to Schneiderman’s clear thinking.
Dr. Lowenstem, who placed Schneiderman with the AJC, recalled his early disappointment at failing to become a teacher and reviewed the success he has achieved with the Committee.
In an answering address, Schneiderman thanked his friends. Later in an interview, he expressed his satisfaction with his work.
HE ISN’T SORRY
“I am not sorry,” he said, “that I’m not a teacher.”
Born in Russian Poland, Schneiderman came to this country with his parents at the age of five. Three years later he became a ward of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum. He was appointed to his present post in 1912.
He has written numerous articles on Jewish subjects, was for many years a member of the editorial staff of the Jewish Tribune, and is known for his knowledge of Jewish affairs.
In 1917 he married Antoinette Saymon, who sat beside him at yesterday’s celebration.
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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.
