Minkoff, Isaiah, 1901-1983.

Isaiah Minkoff was active in Jewish education and cultural efforts in the United States.

Minkoff was born in Warsaw in 1901 and was raised and educated in Moscow. There he became active in Menshevik circles. He emigrated to the United States in 1921 and soon began to participate in Jewish cultural and political life in New York City. He served as Executive Secretary of the Jewish Labor Committee from 1936-1941, and as JLC representative to the Joint Boycott Council and the General Jewish Council. In 1940-41 he worked closely with the American Federation of Labor to arrange for special visas for labor and socialist leaders under threat from the Nazis. From 1944-1975 he served as Executive Vice-Chairman of the National Community Relations Advisory Council, where he pursued human rights issues, including the problem of Soviet Jewry. His concern for Jewish education and culture was reflected in his work with the Forward Association, Yivo Institute for Jewish Research, the Workmen's Circle, the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, and the Atran Foundation.