American Jewish Congress Starts Celebration of Its Golden Jubilee

The American Jewish Congress began a celebration of its Golden Jubilee at a dinner here tonight and was hailed by President Johnson, former President Harry S. Truman and other American leaders for its half century record of achievements in the fields of human rights and service to the Jewish community. The guest of honor was Max Doft, of Lawrence, New York, a co-founder in 1918 of the Congress along with the late Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, Louis D. Brandeis and Nathan Straus.

President Johnson declared, in a message read to the gathering, that “the eloquent voice of the American Jewish Congress has been heard not just on behalf of Jews but on behalf of the highest ideals of freedom and democracy we all share as Americans.” The President praised the organization’s “courageous stand and effective campaigns to advance civil rights, protect civil liberties and defend religious freedom that have helped make this country a better home for all.”

Messages were also received from Chief Justice Earl Warren of the Supreme Court, former Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, of Israel, Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg, United States envoy to the United Nations, Governor Nelson Rockefeller, of New York, Mayor John V. Lindsay, of New York City and Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress. Speakers included Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld, president of the American Jewish Congress, Dr. Joachim Prinz, former president and Howard M. Squadron, vice-president. Rabbi Irving Miller, former AJC president, was dinner chairman. Judge Justine Wise Polier, of the New York State Family Court, honorary president of the AJC’s women’s division, presented Mr. Doft with an inscribed copy of the Jerusalem Bible.