Thousands Attend Prof. Buber’s Funeral; is Eulogized by Premier Eshkol

President Zalman Shazar, Prime Minister Levi Eshkol and members of his Cabinet, Knesset Speaker Kaddish Luz, Justices of the Supreme Court, non-Jewish clergymen, writers and pupils were among the thousands of admirers who paid their last respects today at funeral services for Prof. Martin Buber, the famed Jewish philosopher, who died here yesterday at the age of 87.

Eulogizing the eminent philosopher at funeral services held on the Hebrew University campus, Premier Eshkol described Dr. Buber as a “spiritual giant” who would be mourned by all humanity. He recalled that Dr. Buber joined the Zionist movement at its beginning and that from the first, his emphasis had been on education as the basis for national revival and that generations of Zionists had grown up on his teachings.

Noting that while he was a man of the spirit he never divorced himself from the world of deeds. Mr. Eshkol said that although his views were not always shared by all, all knew that they sprang from complete identification with the roots of the people and true interests. Prof. Buber was also eulogized by Prof. Hugo Bergmann of the Hebrew University, Prof. Nathan Rottenstreich, rector of the University, and Dr. Yoel Rakah, former rector.

With President Shazar, Premier Eshkol, Labor Minister Yigal Allon, Hebrew University president Eliahu Elath and Jewish National Fund chairman Yaakov Tsur serving among the pall bearers, the catafalque was taken from the University campus to the cemetery where Dr. Buber was again culogized by Professors Gershon Shalom and Dr. Ernst Simon. Kaddish was recited by Dr. Buber’s son. Before the funeral services, Dr. Buber’s body lay in state for two hours this morning at the Hebrew University where classes were suspended.