Thousands of Jews filled Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center here today to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the existence of the Jewish Daily Forward, the largest Yiddish newspaper in the world. Many others were unable to secure entrance into the hall because the tickets for the affair had been sold out weeks in advance.
The Forward jubilee was marked by the appearance of a special edition of the newspaper comprising 136 pages, with 80 writers participating in the six sections, which included a special 16-page section in English reviewing the history and achievements of the Forward.
The important part played by the Forward in the development of Jewish life in the United States was emphasized by President Johnson in a message read at the gathering. A message was also read from President Shazar of Israel, stressing the services rendered by the Forward to Jewish Palestine before the establishment of Israel and, later, when the Jewish State was established.
JOHNSON LAUDS NEWSPAPER’S AID TO IMMIGRANTS; SHAZAR SENDS YIDDISH MESSAGE
In his message, written in Yiddish, President Shazar pointed out the fact that the Forward celebration was taking place on the eve of Israel’s Independence Day observance. He lauded especially Abe Cahan, late first editor-in-chief of the Forward and the aid he had given to the Histadrut, Israel’s federation of labor, following his first visit to Palestine.
President Johnson said in his message that he believed that “all Americans have been beneficiaries” of the past accomplishments of the Forward. “Historically, your publication has played a huge role in helping millions of immigrants adjust to new customs in a strange land,” the White House message said. “It was in the pages of your publication that many a new American first encountered the ideals and the traditions which are the real basis of our American democracy,” President Johnson stated. “They are Jewish ideals and traditions as well; for your paper represents a tradition of 5,000 years of struggle for human freedom and human dignity.”
Principal speakers at the celebration, which was held under the chairmanship of Adolf Held, general manager of the Forward, included: Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg, head of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations; Israel’s Ambassador Avraham Harman, and Dr, L. Fogelman, editor-in-chief of the Forward.
Among those who delivered greetings were David Dubinsky and other prominent leaders of labor unions which the Forward had helped to build and strengthen. All major Jewish organizations inserted greetings in the anniversary issue of the Forward.
Five choruses of the Workmen’s Circle and the Zimrah Chorus of the Educational Alliance participated in the concert program that was part of the celebration. Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman and the famous Jewish opera star Jan Peerce also performed during the musical program.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
