Hundreds of Zionists from New York City and environs gathered at the Astor Hotel Saturday night to pay tribute to Meyer W. Weisgal, who has resigned from his post as editor of “The New Palestine,” official organ of the Zionist Organization of America, with which he has been connected for the past fifteen years. Addresses by nationally prominent Zionist leaders and greetings from Zionist leaders abroad lauded the services of Weisgal to Zionism in America and hailed him as one who had done much to spread the doctrines of Zionism in the United States. The banquet tendered to Mr. Weisgal was on the occasion of his departure from New York to take up his duties as editor of “The Jewish Standard,” a new English-Jewish weekly in Toronto, Canada.
A cable sent from London to Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, and of the Jewish Agency, read as follows:
“I am glad to see the American Zionist Organization honoring my dear friend, Weisgal, prior to his departure for Canada. He certainly deserves public recognition for the enormous services he has rendered to the Zionist cause. For fifteen years he has been at grips with Zionist work, and as editor of “The New Palestine” and secretary of the Zionist Organization has helped to popularize and galvanize the cause of Jewish nationalism. Numerous Zionist achievements in America are undoubtedly due to his ability and vigor. His cooperation in times of stress has made me happy. His quitting the American scene is regrettable; the only compensation being that he will continue his valuable services to the Zionist cause in Canada.”
The speakers at the banquet included Louis Lipsky, president of the Zionist Organization, honorary chairman of the testimonial committee; Jacob Fishman, chairman of the committee and toastmaster; Joseph Weiss, treasurer; Morris Rothenberg, vice-president of the organization; Mrs. Archibald Silverman, vice-president; Judge Bernard A. Rosenblatt, Emanuel Neumann, president of the Jewish National Fund; Dr. S. Margoshes, and others.
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.
