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APPLETON CO.
MILLS IN ANDERSON, S. C.
Munufucturers of
OUTING FLANNELS
and
SOFT FILLED SHEETINGS
Selling A gen Is
CONE EXPORT & COMMISSION CO.
59 Worth St.
NEW YORK, N. Y.
CLIFTON
MANUFACTURING
Co.
•
Manufacturers of
SHEETING
•
DRILLS
•
IMUM CLOTH
SOI Til
5
Selling Agents
EASTERN COTTONS, INC.
S Worth St., New York
MILLS IN CLIFTON, S. C.
Crown Prince Of Laughter
(Continued from page 32)
faction in the form of constructive
accomplishment for others, he ex
plained to us, when we asked him
what the extent of his work was and
trier! to get him to talk about his Jew
ish activities. He said that he thought
“Jewish celebrities should make
Jewish communal life and activities
the principal part of their endeavors,
even to the exclusion of work in
their own profession,” but he de
clined to elaborate on his own social
service work. Cantor doesn’t talk
about it, but it’s a fact that he
recently became a member of the
Zionist Organization of America,
and planned the huge outdoor
benefit for the Jewish National
Fund at the Yankee Stadium not
so long ago. Nor does he brag
about his tour of the country last
year to raise funds for the settle
ment of German Jewish children in
Palestine. Few remember that in
1934 a fellowship in honor of his
wife was established at the Hebrew
Lnivcrsity in Palestine by Cantor.
This fellowship was founded after
M auriee Weil of St. Louis donated
the Eddie Cantor Fellowship at
the same university. Both provide
places on the university staff for
young instructors and scientists in
research work.
Not so long ago, Cantor’s fight
against anti-Semitism in this coun
try led some Nazi groups to con
tact the sponsors of his radio show
to demand that they dispense with
his services simply because he was
on record as opposed to Nazism
and Fascism. A whispering cam
paign against him gained con
siderable strength and a flood of
postcards protesting against Cantor
poured in on his sponsors. But
neither these efforts nor threats
against his life deterred him from
helping the American Jewish Con
gress. Repeatedly he protested
against the policy of repression
against Jewish members of the
theatrical profession. Where other
distinguished Jewish stage and screen
actors feared to speak out, Cantor
never hesitated and called upon
all members of the profession in
this country to make known their
attitude by supporting the work
of the American Jewish Congress.
In Hollywood, he is one of the
sponsors and leading members of
the Anti-Nazi League.
The l nited Palestine Appeal and
the American Jewish Joint Distri
bution Committee are among the
national organizations that have
benefited financially and otherwise
from the time and effort Cantor
gave to their annual campaigns for
overseas relief. Within the past
year, the famous joy-spreader spoke
at a party held in his honor by
Louis E. Kirstein, Boston depart
ment store executive, and raised
$7,000 from thirty guests for the
Youth Aliyali project of Hadassah.
“The ambassador of Hadassah” as
he designated himself, raised thou
sands of dollars for German Jewish
children refugees.
Cantor’s philanthropies are amaz
ing in their variety and extent, but
he doesn’t care to have them pub
licized. It is no secret, however,
that he is a consistent and generous
supporter of the United Jewish
Welfare Fund of Los Angeles, the
Jewish Welfare Board, innumerable
Jewish hospitals and orphanages,
as well as the Red Cross, the Girl
Scouts and Boy Scouts, to say
nothing of contributions to various
religious groups that always seek
and get help from him. New York’s
Jewish Federation has found in him
a particularly valued friend and
patron.
His best known, because best
loved philanthropy, is the Surprise
Lake Camp, the vacation land of
hundreds of underprivileged chil
dren from New York’s slums. It
was at this camp in Cold Springs,
New Y T ork, that Cantor spent his
first vacation away from the dirt
and despair of his ghetto surround
ings. That was in 1902, when he
was sent to that camp through the
kindness of the Educational \lli-
ance. To a youngster without
father or mother this taste ot camp
life was paradise, and he and a
group of campers made a pledge
that it it was ever in their power to
send other children to camp they
would do it. Today, Cantor is
president of the Eddie Cantor
( amp Committee, formed 10 years
ago to help Surprise Lake Camp.
For years the camp’s board of
directors has sought to change its
name to Eddie Cantor’s (’amp.
But always the famous funmaker
declined this tribute. Through the
efforts of his committee the* camp
has benefited to the extent of more
than $2.50,000, and Cantor himself
donates $10,000 annually to under
write half the budget.
Throughout the years. Cantor
has grown in stature as a Jewish
personality, but he has never ac
cepted a position of leadership in
any Jewish organization. The
closest he came to it was as presi
dent of the Jewish Theatrical Guild.
But this was more of a professional
undertaking, for he was also presi
dent of the Screen Actors Guild and
vice-president of the National
Yariety Artists and president of Un-
American Federation of Radio
Artists. Because of his unique
position in the entertainment field.
Cantor's role in Jewish affairs has
been as a sort of Jewish good will
ambassador to the world. When
the \. M. C. A. conducted a
nationwide popularity contest the
former East Side boy won it hand'
down. Among Christians through
out the land he stands as symbol
of what is best and finest among
the Jewish people. He is one of the
few Jews adopted as an honorary
member by the Catholic Actors
Guild and the Episcopal Actor*
Guild. In his philanthropies, lie
has not been bound by race or
creed but only by need. But always
he has remained Eddie Cantor,
the proud, loyal and devoted Jew.
(Copyright 1937 for The Southern Israelite')
jf THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
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