by Shlomo Abraham
R. Israel Meir Lau, Ashkenazi Chief
Rabbi of Israel.
Former Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Israel Meir Lau spoke Tuesday evening at New York’s NYU on the topic of The Jewish Future. The lecture was a tribute to legendary journalist Gershon Jacobson who passed away just over one year ago.
Jacobson’s eldest son Simon, a noted author and speaker in his own right, opened the event with remarks on his father’s life accomplishments as journalist and editor of the Yiddish weekly Algemeiner Journal. Simon then invited Cantor Joseph Malovany of the 5th Ave. Synagogue to perform a cantorial tribute to his father.
Before introducing the main speaker, Simon summed up the resolutions made by his extended family; namely a five part plan to actualize his father’s goal of assuring Jewish continuity. The efforts include the Gershon Jacobson Jewish Continuity Fund, the expansion of the Algemeiner Journal, the launch of Algemeiner.com, the digitizing of the Algemeiner archives and the annual Gershon Jacobson Lecture.