A number of Jewish communities in the United States are now writing their histories, it was revealed here today by Dr. Louis Finkelstein, chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Dr. Finkelstein reported that such histories are already under preparation in Miami, Los Angeles and Hartford, Conn.
Other Jewish communities will be stimulated to write such histories by the American Jewish History Center which will be opened this week at the Seminary, Dr. Finkelstein said. The Center will be devoted to research on history of the Jews in this country and will be headed by Allan Nevin, Professor of American History at Columbia University. Prof. Moshe Davis of the Jewish Theological Seminary will be co-director.
The Center, which is being financed by Louis M. Rabinowitz, noted Jewish philanthropist, will also prepare a series of biographies based on the lives and letters of outstanding American Jews. For both the local projects and the biographies, the Seminary’s library, one of the largest collections of Judaica in the world, will be made available.
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