Alexander Kahn, prominent American Jewish leader and for many years general manager of the Jewish Daily Forward, died here last night at the age of 80. He had retired from his post on the Forward several weeks ago.
Born in Smolensk, Russia, he came to the United States in 1893. He received a Bachelor of Laws degree from New York University in 1903 and became one of America’s leading labor lawyers. He was a member of the New York Lawyers Association and of the Washington Bar Association.
A founder of the Joint Distribution Committee, he was one of the vice-chairmen of the world-wide Jewish relief organization. He was also a director of the United Hias Service, the Workmen’s Circle, the National Labor Committee for Israel, and active in many other Jewish and civic organizations. He was also a founder and vice-president of the Liberal Party.
Deeply interested in Labor Zionism, he was a member of the administrative committee of the Jewish Agency for Palestine under the League of Nations. He was also a trustee of the Palestine Economic Corporation. Together with his wife, Sarah, he visited Israel, soon after the establishment of the state, where he was honored by the Histadrut, Israel’s Federation of Labor. He was a personal friend of Israel’s President Izhak Ben Zvi and of Premier David Ben-Gurion. Last year, he was presented with a silver-bound Bible by the Israel Government for his efforts on behalf of the Israel Bond Organization in America.
Mr. Kahn was known as “the East Side Ambassador to the Uptown Jews” because of his outstanding contributions in bringing the views of immigrant Jews to leaders of American Jewry who knew little of the mentality of immigrants from Eastern Europe. He played a tremendous role in developing better understanding between various groups in American Jewry.
Mr. Kahn was also a corporation officer of the WEVD radio station, a founder and officer of the New Leader magazine, and the author of a number of pamphlets on Socialism and economics. On his last birthday, Mr. Kahn received a portfolio of letters from prominent persons which included a greeting from President Kennedy. He also received from Mayor Robert F. Wagner, at City Hall, a citation for distinguished service to the city.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, arranged by a special committee composed of representatives of Jewish organizations in which he was active.
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