Rutgers University Convocation Marks Jewish Tercentenary

The Jewish role in the development of the American way of life, and Jewish contributions to general thought in the mainstream of Western culture were the principal themes in talks delivered at Rutgers University’s convocation in recognition of the Tercentenary of Jewish settlement in the United States.

Principal speakers at the convocation were Dr. James G. MacDonald, first United States Ambassador to Israel, and Dr. Salo W. Baron, president of the American Jewish Historical Society and Professor of History at Columbia University. Dr. Lewis Webster Jones, president of the university, presided and conferred honorary degrees on Dr. Milton Konvitz, Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, and Michael A. Stavitsky, honorary president of the American Association for Jewish Education. He also presented Rutgers University Awards to Aaron Lasers and Henry S. Puder.

Dr. Baron declared that the Jewish heritage “not only vitally influenced the religious thinking of the masses, but also served as a model for a social organization whose doctrines of law and order aimed at a social equilibrium based upon the dignity of the individual man,” Dr. MacDonald declared that non-Jews “must seek to learn, at least a little, of Jewish history, and of the Jews creative and civilizing role through the ages. Then and only then shall we be in a position to appreciate the Jews manifold gifts to the spirit. “

Later, the four men who were honored by Rutgers University were guests of honor at a dinner sponsored by the Jewish Tercentenary Committee of the Jewish Community Council of Essex County.