Irving Bernstein

Background

Bernstein, Irving was born on August 9, 1921 in New York City. Son of Jacob and Ethel (Potasewitz) Bernstein.

Education

irving Berstein studied at City College of New York and made Bachelor Social Science 1942. Later he took Master of Arts degree at Columbia University Teachers College in 1946. 1987 he became Doctor of Humane Letters at Yeshiva University.

Career

After a short time in the public school system (ыecondary school teacher, New York City Public School System, 1946;), he became a social worker (New York City Department Welfare, 1947).

in 1946, began working for the UJA in what would become his life’s mission.

For two years he traveled across America, raising money to settle European Jewry in Palestine.

UJA asked him to return to New York in 1950 to train other fund raisers.

Bernstein was transferred to a management position in Los Angeles in 1953. He raised funds there to rescue Jews in Arab lands through Operation Magic Carpet and Operation Ezra.

He returned to UJA headquarters in New York in 1961.

Along with Rabbi Herbert Friedman, then the UJA’s national chairman, Bernstein created the Young Leadership Division, the Israel Education Fund and a host of other programs that laid the foundation for the continuing rescue of world Jewry.

In 1971, Bernstein was elected national executive vice president, a position he held until 1984. Under his leadership, the women’s and young leadership divisions were strengthened.

In recent years, Bernstein was a visiting professor at Brandeis University, where a new center to train Jewish leaders and fund raisers was recently named for him and for philanthropist Max Fisher.

Achievements

• Bernstein deplored U.S. Jewry’s lack of knowledge about Jewish history and tradition.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Living Uja History: As Told Through the Personal Stories of Leaders of Israel and Leaders of the United Jewish Appeal by Irving Bernstein

    (Living Uja History book. Read reviews from world’s larges...)

Membership

In addition to his lifelong work with UJA, Bernstein served on the boards of the American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the United Israel Appeal and several other Jewish communal organizations.

Board directors Hebrew University, Technion University, Israel Arts and Sciences Academy, Medical Development Israel, International Center Film Production, Jerusalem. With United States Army Air Force, 1942-1945. Member International Conference Jewish Communal Service, Lambs Club, Varsity Club City College of New New York.

Connections

Married Judith Muniz on January 2, 1952. They had children: Robert, Joseph.

Father:

Jacob Bernstein

Mother:

Ethel (Potasewitz) Bernstein

Spouse:

Judith Muniz

child:

Joseph Bernstein

child:

Robert Bernstein

References

• Archive Irving Bernstein