On his return from a cruise around the world, which included a visit to Palestine, Samuel Untermyer, noted lawyer, said yesterday in an interview with a representative of the "Jewish Daily Bulletin":
"To further the development of the Hebrew University in Palestine, which I consider the greatest single achievement there, I have agreed to send to Dr. Judah L. Magnes the interest on $100,000 toward the maintenance of the University and to bequeath the principal as an unrestricted gift in my will."
On the occasion of the dedication of the University, Mr. Untermyer donated $20,000 for the erection of a stadium as a memorial to his wife.
"I look to the University as the great reservoir from which will flow to the corners of the earth contributions from the Jews’ intellectual and spiritual resources, for the advancement and welfare of humanity," Mr. Untermyer said.
"The men and women who have come to Palestine are the finest specimens of humankind of which any country could be built. They are bearing up courageously under the economic crisis. On all sides are evidences of their labor. Agricultural products, oranges and citrous fruits from the Jewish plantations are of the finest quality and compare favorably with the American products."
Referring to the commission of experts which will leave for Palestine shortly under the auspices of the Jewish Agency, Mr. Untermyer stated: "I look to this commission to accomplish a great deal for Palestine and I am very much interested in the outcome of its work there."
While in Tel-Aviv, the all-Jewish municipality conferred the title of "first citizen" upon Mr. Untermyer.
In Hong Kong, Tokio, Java, Cairo. Manila and other points, Mr. Untermyer met Jewish committees and was entertained by local Zionist bodies. At Shanghai he was asked to address a Jewish gathering, but the political disturbances prevented his acceptance.
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Straus celebrated their fifty-second wedding anniversary Thursday at their home in Mamaroneck, N. Y. The philanthropist was said to be in good health and expressed himself as being happy to be back in America after his trip to Palestine.
Isaac J. Bernheim of 31 West Eighty-fifth Street, a retired tobacco importer, formerly a member of the firm of J. Bernheim & Sons, dropped dead Thursday afternoon of heart disease while standing at Park Avenue and Forty-first Street. He was 65 years old.
The Bernheim firm, founded by Mr. Bernheim’s father in 1845, was one of the oldest in the country engaged in the importation of Cuban tobacco. It was dissolved at the time of Mr. Bernheim’s retirement.
A special meeting of the Executive Committee of the American Ort was called for today by Dr. Henry Moskowitz, Chairman. The meeting will be held at the Cafe Boulevard, at one o’clock.
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