Dr. Mark Wischnitzer, Jewish Historian, Dies; Was 73

Dr. Mark Wischnitzer, Jewish historian and social worker, was found dead in his room at the Yarkon Hotel here last night, apparently the victim of a heart attack. He was 73. A resident of the United States and professor of history at Yeshiva University, he was visiting Israel.

Born in Rovno, Russia, Dr. Wischnitzer was educated at the Universities of Vienna and Berlin and specialized in Russian and Jewish history. He was the editor of the history section of the “Jewish Encyclopedia” published in Russian between 1908 and 1913 and late was co-editor of the “History of the Jewish People,” also published in Russian. In the early 20’s he was editor of various publications in London and Berlin, including the Encyclopedia Judaica.”

In 1921 he became secretary general of the Hilfsverein der Deutschen Juden and conducted social, cultural and relief programs in Eastern Europe. He directed mass emigration of German Jews to Western Germany and overseas from 1933 to 1937. In 1941 he settled in the United States and became affiliated with a number of Jewish groups including the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, American Jewish Committee and Yiddish Scientific Institute.