On April 22, 1972 the front page of the Forward had an important announcement. Beneath the paper's fold, was a small boxed heading announcing the Forward's 75th birthday. "Today, April 22nd, it's exactly 75 years since we first starting publishing Der Forverts" they announced, using the papers Yiddish name. "The Forverts," they continued, "is the biggest, most popular, national Jewish daily in America." "This is a historic date," they concluded. Simon Weber, the Forward's editor in chief at the time, is seen here at the celebratory Lincoln Center Philharmonic Hall event, that followed the paper's printed announcement. The Yiddish sign in front of the podium says: "We greet the Forverts on its 75th anniversary."

In April 1972, the Forward was still publishing in its historic building on East Broadway, pictured here. And it had offices nationwide and in Canada including in Washington DC, Pittsburgh and Montreal. News of local Vietnam war protests were also on their front page that April, as were headlines about the easing of Middle East tensions and the latest moon landings: "Two Astronauts walk on the moon; Plan on staying there for three days." Plans were in place for a celebration of the Forward's own journey, taking place Sunday May 21st, at New York Philharmonic Hall.

The festive May 21st edition included a front page full of anniversary wishes. Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, US President Richard Nixon and New York City's \[Mayor John Lindsay]https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/john-v-lindsay-builds-a-sukkah) are just a few that offered warm greetings there. At the bottom of that celebratory front page was a bordered box announcing: der yontef hoybt zikh on! , a Yiddish version of 'let's get this party started!'

The Forward's 75th anniversary party was not without drama. As told on the front page of the next day's edition, on May 22, a bomb threat kept attendees waiting for two hours outside Philharmonic Hall as they waited for the all clear announcement and could return indoors to start that party.

Reporting the celebration on May 23rd's front page was the Forward's \[Yitskhok Shmulevitsh]https://yleksikon.blogspot.com/2019/09/yitskhok-shmulevitsh.html). A Forverts journalist for over three decades at that point beginning in pre-war Poland, Shmulevitsh opened his celebratory report by discussing the weather that last Sunday. "The sky was cloudy all morning," Shmulevitsh recalled, "it looked as though rain was imminent." "Later though," he continued, "the sun came out and shone brightly, its beams lighting up the world as though especially for the Forverts 75th anniversary."

"Though the hall's doors were set to open at 1:30 pm", he continued sharing the exciting scene with readers, " by 11 am thousands of Jewish folks, all kinds, of all ages, from various parts New York, began streaming towards the hall." "Many were previewing the upcoming celebration by listening to the Forward's radio show on its WEVD station, that presented a special dramatic show about the paper's 75 year history."

"The crowd" he continued " was in their holiday best, their faces radiated joy having come to honor the paper that continues to serve them loyally." "Overheard in conversation as they waited patiently in the sunshine," Shmulevitsh reported, "were reflections on the paper's ongoing historic role in the fight for social justice and against despotism from either side, right or left."

Finally, bomb scare behind it, the event began. The audience was greeted by Simon Weber who remarked that "holiday continues." "Tomorrow," Editor in Chief Weber told audience members, "when we return to the editorial offices, to our respective desks, typewriters and linotype machines, we'll continue celebrating the daily joy of publishing the Forverts." "Today," Weber remarked, gazing into his editorial crystal ball, "perhaps we may even permit ourselves to dream that in another 25 years, our children and their children, sat in yet another beautiful hall, will celebrate the 100th Forward anniversary." On April 22, 2021 the Forward.com, a now digital only independent Jewish media outlet, celebrates its 124th anniversary.