Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Thousands Commemorate Anniversary of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising at ‘times Square’

May 8, 1967
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

Several thousand persons, including delegations from religious communal and civic groups in the metropolitan and outlying areas crowded into Times Square here today to join in the commemoration of the 24th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising against the armed might of the Nazis. The famous thoroughfare was renamed Warsaw Ghetto Square for the day.

The rally was held under auspices of the Zionist Organization of America in co-sponsorship with 40 national and local Jewish organizations and was addressed by Senator Jacob K. Javits; Mayor John V. Lindsay; Orin Lehman, secretary of the American Jewish Committee; Jacques Torczyner, president of the ZOA; Rabbi Emanuel Rackman, assistant president of Yeshiva University; Dr. Joachim Prinz, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, and Abram Salomon, chairman of the Anniversary Committee, who presided. The ceremonies and addresses were rendered against a backdrop of a huge photographic reproduction of the granite monument on the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto. Members of the Jewish War Veterans of America presented colors and sounded taps.

The sentiments of President Johnson were expressed in a message sent to the gathering from the White House by Will Sparks, assistant to the President. The message read: “The President appreciates knowing of your memorial tribute to the Jews who lost their lives in World War II. He joins you in honoring their memory and in praying that no such tragedy shall again befall members of the human race. While seeking to end the bitter legacy of World War II, the President hopes above all to bring about a stable peace when men can forever live in freedom and security from persecution.”

Addressing a memorial meeting of the Federation of Jewish Underground Fighters Against Nazism at the Sheraton Atlantic Hotel here this afternoon, Dore Schary, national chairman of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation League, said he was “appalled” by the failure of Polish authorities to acknowledge the preponderance of Jewish victims of Auschwitz at recent ceremonies at the site of the former death camp. The Federation includes survivors of a widespread Jewish resistance movement in Eastern Europe during World War II. Other speakers were Eleazar Lipsky, chairman of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, and Jerome D. Cohen, tri-state chairman of the Jewish War Veterans.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement