Leaders of American Jewish organizations and Israel Ambassador Abba Eban paid tribute today to former Vice President Alben W. Barkley for whom funeral services were held in Washington today. During the 25 years of his service as a member of the Senate and the four years as Vice. President, Mr. Barkley was greatly devoted to Jewish causes.
Ambassador Eban said: “I am deeply shocked by the sudden passing of Senator Alben Barkley. He was in the forefront of the great Americans who have sustained Israel’s cause with their eloquence and ardent sympathy. Only two days ago be was conversing with me in affectionate concern for Israel’s future. All free peoples and all generous causes will be the poorer for his loss. We are proud to know that his name has been inscribed on the map of our country.”
Philip M. Klutznick, president of B’nai B’rith, said: “The death of Alben W. Barkley will be mourned by Americans of every political creed, race and religion. His integrity, steadfast faith in the future of America, and championship of the underprivileged made him an exemplary force in American political life. He was an unwavering friend of the Jewish people, an admirer of B’nai B’rith whose general convention he addressed in 1950, one of the first to see the necessity for establishing in Palestine a haven for victims of Nazi persecution and a strong believer in that new State of Israel as a bastion of democracy.
Rabbi Irving Miller, chairman of the American Zionist Council, cabled the following message from Jerusalem where he is attending the World Zionist Congress: “Senator Barkley’s death comes as a blow to the free world at a time when his fighting spirit is so desperately needed. High among the democratic causes espoused by Mr. Barkley was his unfailing support of Israel and Zionism. We are proud to have been associated with so inspiring a leader and so fine a man. The Zionist movement recalls with affection how untiringly he worked to bring about a just and durable peace in the Middle East.”
Mortimer May, president of the Zionist Organization of America, who is now attending the Zionist Congress as head of the ZOA delegation, cabled from Jerusalem: “Among the many millions who mourn the death of Senator Alben W. Barkley, Jews throughout the world feel an especially profound sense of loss-for throughout his life Senator Barkley was among the foremost champions of justice for the Jewish people. The Zionists of America, in particular, recall how courageously he stood in the forefront of the struggle to establish the Jewish State and how indefatigably he worked to foster the growth and development of Israel.”
Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein, chairman of the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs, sent the following message of condolence to Mrs. Alben W. Barkley: “We shall miss Senator Alben W. Barkley’s wise counsel in the halls of government, his warm under standing of human nature, and his keen humor. We shall miss him as a great American and a distinguished friend of Israel. His concern over the establishment of Israel, and his efforts toward the fulfillment of this dream will always be remembered by the American Jewish community and by Jews everywhere. In the annals of modern Israel it shall be said of him that his name shall be for a blessing.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
