Morris D. Waldman Retires from American Jewish Committee; Lauded by Proskauer and Blaustein

After seventeen years of service, Morris D. Waldman, vice-chairman, of the executive committee of the American Jewish Committee has, at his request, been granted retirement as of October 1, 1945, it was announced today by Judge Joseph M. Proskauer, committee president, and Jacob Blaustein, chairman of the executive committee. Mr. Waldman, who is sixty-six, will henceforth be relieved of all professional duties and responsibilities, but will continue his association with the committee as a lay member of the organization’s executive committee.

In making this announcement, Judge Proskauer and Mr. Blaustein declared: "Morris Waldman has made a great contribution to the success of the American Jewish Committee and to the cause of Jewry all over the world. Speaking not only for ourselves, but in behalf of the entire membership of the American Jewish Committee, we hope that we may have the benefit of his wisdom and counsel for many years to come."

Prior to assuming the position of executive vice-president of the American Jewish Committee, Mr. Waldman had spent over a quarter of a century in other fields of social work and community organization. From 1909 to 1917, he was managing director of the United Hebrew Charities of New York City, at that time the largest organization of its kind in the United States.

Mr. Waldman held the post of European director of the Medico-Sanitary and War Orphans Departments of the American Joint Distribution Committee during 1921-22 when he introduced innovntions which substantially raised the level of Jewish health in Eastern Europe. With the growth of anti-Semitism in the United States, he organized in 1933 a comprehensive educational program aimed at familiarizing the American people with the general situation in Germany and the plight of the Jews. Under his leadership, a public relations department, originally called the "survey committee," was established within the American Jewish Committee.

In the later years of Mr. Waldman’s administration, the American Jewish Committee established a Research Institute for Peace and Post-War Problems. Mr. Waldman strongly advocated the promulgation of an international bill of rights to safeguard minorities throughout the world. Appreciation for his contribution to the formulation of an international bill of rights was recently expressed in a letter from Edward R. Stettinius, former Secretary of State, who was chairman of the San Francisco conference.