JTA President Issues Holiday Message; Pledges Continued Service

The Jewish year 5713 witnessed a series of developments which will affect the future course of Jewish life here and abroad, Louis P. Rocker, president of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, noted in a Rosh Hashanah message.

Trends and developments revealed in the past year, he pledged, will be vigilantly followed by JTA during the New Year so that the community may be quickly and accurately apprised of events anywhere in the world that may affect the Jewish position.

“The past year witnessed a number of major news developments of vital concern to every Jew,” Mr. Rocker said. “A major ‘story’ was the continued, heroic and painful consolidation of the State of Israel which, today, must concern every Jew. A dramatic development was the recognition by the German Government of the German people’s moral debt to the Jewish people and the payment of reparations to Israel and the world Jewish organizations.

“Another serious development was the launching of a powerful anti-Semitic campaign by the rulers of the Soviet Union which also involved the governments of the Iron Curtain countries and the Communist Party machines throughout the world. A fourth major development was the continuing struggle here in the United States for revision of our immigration laws and enactment of a code based on justice, humanity and the country’s real needs.

“I am proud that in covering these and other new developments throughout the year, JTA was able to function effectively, efficiently and honestly as the information arm of the Jewish community. We are particularly proud of JTA’s sustained and sensitive coverage of the Israel scene and of its alertness and energy in exposing and revealing the threat of Communist anti-Semitism.

“It has, naturally, been a source of considerable satisfaction that the significance and importance of JTA in the communal pattern is being given increasing recognition by the American Jewish leadership. We trust that in 5714 this understanding will be translated into provision of means enabling JTA to broaden its operations and, thus, its utility to the entire community.”