Spanish Envoy Will Observe Rambam Birth

Luis Calderon, Spanish Ambassador to the United States, will transmit the salutations of his government to the New York meeting commemorating the eight hundredth anniversary of the birth of Moses Maimonides, medieval Jewish sage, on April 14, according to an announcement by Herman Bernstein, executive secretary of the Maimonides Octocentennial Committee, 64 West Forty-eighth street.

Senor Calderon will associate himself with the celebration on behalf of his government, which is officially sponsoring a Maimonides observance in Spain, Mr. Bernstein said. Maimonides, born in Spain in 1135, is considered the greatest Jewish philosopher and Talmudic commentator of the Middle Ages, and his writing had a profound influence on later religious philosophy.

MANIFESTO OF GOVERNMENT

The committee also made public the manifesto issued by the Spanish Government on the occasion of the observance in Cordoba, his birthplace. The document, which is signed by Premier Alejandro Lerroux, follows:

“On March 30, 1935, will be celebrated the eight hundredth anniversary of the birth of the great Jewish humanitarian, Moses ben Maimon, known in history as Maimonides, whose influence on medieval culture has reflected honor on Spain and especially on Cordoba, the native city of the great rabbi.

“It is not necessary to recall the importance of the life-work of this great scholar, whose thought was not limited to the philosophical restrictions of the Jewish religion but had in an unforseen manner advanced the humanistic philosophy of the Middle Ages, medical science, astronomy, mathematics, Oriental languages, and especially Jewish scholarship, and has thus opened new horizons to human thought.

ISSUES DECREES

“The Republic, always prepared to pay a tribute of admiration and respect to the memory of the sons of Spain who have exalted and carried her fame beyond our own frontiers, is desirous of identifying herself with the aims of the committee which has undertaken to organize the celebration of the octocentennial anniversary of Maimonides.

“Inspired by this desire, the President of the Council of Ministers, together with all the other members of the Government, decrees:

“First, that all acts decided upon by the committee at Cordoba in charge of the arrangements for the memorial celebration of the eight hundredth anniversary of Maimonides will be recognized as acts of government;

“Second, that the Minister of Public Education and Fine Arts will participate in all arrangements in connection with the Maimonides memorial celebration and will be supported by the National Tourist Office.”