Jewish Communities All over the World Mourn Death of Moses Leavitt

Jewish communities from all over the free would expressed their grief over the death of Moses A. Leavitt, executive vice-chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, in messages of condolence to the organization here and to its European headquarters in Geneva. Mr. Leavitt died last Monday in Geneva, Switzerland, while attending a session of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. His body was interred last Friday in Beth Moses Cemetery, Farmingdale, Long Island, following funeral services which were held at the Free Synagogue here.

More than 500 welfare, religious and civic leaders, both Jewish and non-Jewish, attended the funeral services. Rabbi Jacob Rudin, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth El, Great Neck, Long Island, where Mr. Leavitt resided, and Rabbi Edward Klein, of the Free Synagogue, conducted services. Among those present were Edward M.M. Warburg, JDC chairman, and Mrs. Warburg; Israel Ambassador and Mrs. Avraham Harman; Michael Arnon, Israel Consul General in New York; Bishop Edward Swanstrom and James Norris of the National Catholic Welfare Conference; James McCracken of Church World Service; George Warren, Advisor on Refugee Programs of the U.S. State Department; and Louis Broido, New York Commissioner of Commerce.

Dr. Dewey D. Stone, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc., and United Israel Appeal, recalled in a statement, Mr. Leavitt as a man whose whole life was devoted to the assistance of fellow Jews throughout the world. “During his long and distinguished career which spanned one of the most turbulent periods in recent Jewish history,” Dr. Stone said, “there had been few crises in which his wise counsel and deep human concern have not helped to rally American Jewry to supreme efforts. His courage and fighting spirit in the service of great humanitarian causes, his personal modesty, loyalty and dedication will long be a shining example to all those privileged to have known him.”