The 38th annual conference of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research opened here last night with a message of greetings from Israel’s President Zalman Shazar urging the continuation “of the YIVO tradition to cultivate the vine-yard of the old and new Jewish creativity” and the dissemination of Jewish culture of Eastern Europe among the Jews in North America.
The establishment of a YIVO Heritage Foundation was announced at today’s session of the four day conference. Principal speaker at the session last night, held at Hunter College, was Abraham Sutskever, leading Jewish poet now residing in Tel Aviv. He dealt with the heroic efforts made to rescue priceless cultural treasures from destruction at the hands of the Nazis in the Vilna Chetto where he was one of the fighters.
Another speaker last night was Dr. Irving Howe, Professor of English at Hunter College, who spoke on “The Humanist Aspect of the Yiddish Literature.” The conference will also discuss Jewish Identity within the Framework of American Culture, The Unique Pattern of the American Diaspora Experience and other subjects. The speakers include authors and educators interested in promoting Jewish culture.
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