Jewry's Role in

News Digest

Human Affairs

THE INNOVATOR AND THE VISIONARY
The pace of invention and technology has leapt forward astronomically
decade after decade during recent generations. Which turn-of-the-century
futurist could begin to foresee the ways of the Internet or the means of
mapping the universe? The tradition of discovery that dominates our lives
remains unabated and in the province of people like those we praise here.
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EMILE BERLINER
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(1851-1929) b. Wolfenbuettel, Germany Inventor
and Industrialist Recognition to Alexander G.
Bell for the telephone and to Thomas A. Edison
for the phonograph should rightly be shared with
a multi-talented Jewish inventor. Within a decade
Berliner transformed both of these developments
into practical realities that sired huge industries. •
Bell's telephone was revolutionized by his wizard-
dry: an induction coil for a workable microphone that transmitted the
human voice with clarity over long distances (1877). And by designing a
hard disc to replace the clumsy wax cylinder of Edison's machine, he
created the Berliner Gramophone (renamed the Victor Talking Machine)
with superior fidelity and mass popularity (1887).

Other of his contributions to technology and public service are
memorable. Introduction of a successful revolving cylinder aircraft engine.
Key developments in motion picture projection. Building three prototype
helicopters he flight tested himself. Establishing royalty rights for
performing artists. Leadership in promoting the pasteurization of milk and
fighting tuberculosis. President Herbert Hoover said of him, "The.German
immigrant boy, Emile Berliner, has become one of America's most useful
citizens."

CARL SAGAN
(1934-97) b. Brooklyn, NY Astronomer and
Author More than one-half billion people in sixty

countries joined the awesome tour through deep
space he narrated in 1980. Cosmos, an award-
winning TV spectacular based on his book, was
but one achievement of the world's preeminent
popularizer of astronomy, space flight and
cosmology. Sagan earlier played a major role
in the Mariner, Viking and Voyager planetary missions, and in researching
the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. The former director of the
Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University had also authored
more than seven-hundred articles and twenty books. Among them were the
best sellers Broca's Brain, Contact and Pulitzer Prize winning The Dragons
of Eden. In 1975, while in mid-career, Sagan received the coveted Joseph
Priestly Award "for distinguished contributions to the welfare of mankind."

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Saul Stadtmauer

"Our goal should be to make it possible for every Jewish person, child or
adult, to be exposed to the mystery and romance of Jewish History, to the
enthralling insights and special sensitivities ofJewish thought, to the sanctity
and symbolism of Jewish existence, and to the power and profundity of
Jewish faith. Education, in its broadest sense, will enable young people to
confront the secret ofJewish tenacity and existence ...they will be able, even
eager, to find their place in a creative and constructive Jewish community."

Professor Isador Twersky
Harvard University

COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY
Walter & Lea Field, Founders/Spbnsors
Irwin S. Field, Chairperson
Harriet F. Siden, Chairperson

Visit many more notable Jews at our website: www.dorledor.org

hate crimes law and noted several
high-profile incidents of hate crimes
against Jews.
"Hate crimes are not like other
crimes," Gore said when he received
an award from the National Jewish
Democratic Council at a Washington
fund-raiser. The U.S. Senate was
expected to vote on a hate crimes
amendment.

Bronfmans
Sell Seagram

New York/JTA — A French conglom-
erate's acquisition of the Seagram Co.
brings to an end the Bronfman fami-
ly's 72-year control over the liquor and
entertainment giant.
As a result of Vivendi's purchase
of Seagram for about $34 billion in
stock, Edgar Bronfman Jr., Seagram's
current chief executive officer,
became vice chairman of the newly
formed company, to be called
Vivendi Universal. The Bronfman
family fortune funds many Jewish
philanthropic causes.

Saatchi & Saatchi
Ad Firm Sold

New York/JTA — The French adver-
tising firm Publicis is taking over
Britain's Saatchi & Saatchi in a $1.89
billion deal that creates the world's
fifth largest advertising company.
Saatchi & Saatchi was founded by
Charles and Maurice Saatchi, the sons
of an Iraqi Jew who fled from
Baghdad to Britain in 1946 to avoid
religious persecution. Nathan Saatchi
died recently at the age of 92.

Russia Recognizes
Chabad Group

Moscow/JTA — Russia's Interior
Ministry granted official recognition
to the Chabad Lubavitch-dominated
Federation of Jewish Communities.
The move elevates the federation's
status to that of its chief rival, the
Russian Jewish Congress, and is
expected to heighten tensions between
the two groups.

War Criminal
Loses Appeal Right

6/23

2000

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27550 WOODWARD at I 1 112 Mile

248 548-4100

London/JTA — Britain's highest court
denied a convicted Nazi war criminal the
right to appeal his double life sentence.

Anthony Sawoniuk, 79, was found
guilty last year of murdering two Jews
in the Soviet Union in 1942.
The court offered no further com-
ment when it denied his appeal.
Sawoniuk is the only person in
Britain ever found guilty of Nazi war
crimes.

Canada's Policy
Is Questioned

Toronto/JTA — Canada accepted
thousands of ex-Nazis in the years fol-
lowing World War II because the
Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe
prevented it from screening out
potential war criminals, according to
a new book.
But Jewish groups and scholars say
Howard Margolian's Unauthorized

Entry: The Truth about Nazi War
Criminals in Canada, 1946-1956 is an
attempt to whitewash history.

Mogul Thanks
Jewish Groups

Moscow/JTA — Russian media
mogul Vladimir Goussinsky said pres-
sure from the international Jewish
community helped secure his release
from prison.
In an interview with Newsweek,
Goussinsky also credited the efforts of
the U.S. government, journalists from
around the world and Russian busi-
nessmen. "I am grateful to all the
people who came to my support,"
Goussinsky said.

Jewish Survey
Begins In July

New York/JTA — A study of 5,000
U.S. Jews is expected to be launched
in early July.
The National Jewish Population
Survey 2000, initially scheduled to
begin in January, was delayed so that
its sponsor organization, the United
Jewish Communities, could review it
further. It is now being modified to
ensure that the phone surveys do not
take longer than 35 minutes.

Last Jew Dies
Near Auschwitz

New York/JTA —.The last Jew living
in Osweicim, the town near the site
of the Auschwitz death camp, died
recently at 72.

