The dawn of a new era of intensive activity in the upbuilding of Palestine as the Jewish national home was predicted by Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, in his first public message to the Jews of the United States since his arrival here, delivered at the Mecca Temple on Monday evening.
Over 5,000 persons crowded the hall to greet the president of the Zionist Organization on his fourth visit to this country, and listen to his description of the situation in Palestine which cause much concern to New York’s Jewish masses, and to the outline of his mission of “peace and unity” in his final efforts to complete the organization of the Jewish Agency to include American non-Zionists in the body designated by the Palestine Mandate as an Advisory to the Palestine administration, on matters effecting the creation of the Jewish national home.
Emanuel Neumann, who opened the meeting, expressed the desire of the Zionist Organization of America to lend its loyal support to Dr. Weizmann’s efforts in this direction. Judge William M. Lewis of Philadelphia, national chairman of the United Palestine Appeal, presided over the gathering. Dr. Stephen S. Wise, honorary chairman, in a moving address, paid tribute to Dr. Weizmann, declaring that no matter what happened five years ago in Cleveland, “there is no reason for anybody to absent himself from the work for the cause,” adding a dramatic touch to the occasion when, finishing his address, he grasped Dr. Weizmann’s hand as an expression of unequivocal loyal support. Louis Lipsky, president of the Zionist Organization of America, and Dr. Chaim Arlosoroff, Palestine Jewish labor leader who is a member of the Weizmann delegation, delivered addresses.
DR. WEIZMANN OUTLINES SITUATION
Dr. Weizmann, in his address, gave a broad outline of the Palestine development, touching both on the political and economic aspects of the problem and answering some of the criticisms recently directed against the Zionist Executive.
“The two features, which were of uppermost importance in the problem of upbuilding Palestine were: first, it was necessary to prove that Palestine could be rebuilt, and second, that Palestine could be rebuilt by Jewish hands. These two questions were answered in the affirmative to the satisfaction of the world’s public opinion. The main factor which determined the political situation in Palestine and regulated the attitude of the mandatory power was the reaction of public opinion to the enterprise. In this respect the Zionist movement has achieved success. It was only a few years ago that the British Government looked upon the Jewish settlement of Palestine as an experiment which might, or might not fail. Governments move slowly and commit themselves only insofar as the facts of the situation warrant it. Today there is not a single serious-minded man in England who is not convinced that Jewish work in Palestine has come to stay and must be reckoned with. This situation in the Center has had its effect in other countries. This attitude of respect and consideration we find not only in England, but also in France, in Italy, in other European countries, not to speak of the United States. This progress has also been manifested in the so-called Arab problem, which has often been more acute in New York than in Jerusalem,” he stated. “The Arab problem today has lost its acuteness and our relations with the Arab people are on a solid foundation.”
ANALYZES Z. O. EXECUTIVE POLICY
Dr. Weizmann analyzed the policy of of the Zionist Executive in Palestine, declaring it to differ from all other methods of colonizing peoples. “All other methods of colonizing peoples accomplish their task by means of material force. It is for the first time in the history of colonization that a country — Palestine — is being colonized by the methods of peace not by the sword and rifle but by the hammer and plough. This is perhaps the secret of the world’s satisfaction with and admiration, for our work. There is not one living Arab who can complain that an injustice was done him in Palestine by the Jews. Thanks to this policy Palestine is the most quiet corner in the entire Near East, and we will forbid as much as it is within our power the use of any military phraseology or, for that matter, any kind of ology, to interfere with this situation or to break the line and style of our policy in Palestine.
“The two main lines of development in Palestine agriculture and industry are sound notwithstanding all that may be said about the present unemployment. Just as in the agricultural development the Jewish settlers have succeeded in conquering the soil that is preferring to turn from mere devoted idealists into expert toilers of the land, acquiring knowledge of the peculiarities of the soil and the methods for its conquest, so it happened with the industrial development and the inauguration of Jewish handicrafts.
“During my eight days’ stay in New York I heard no less than nine kinds of criticism. One directed against “your Sollel Boneh,” a workers’ contracting cooperative, is of particular interest in this connection. Nine years ago there was no skilled Jewish labor in Palestine. When something had to be done, non-Jewish hands had to be called. The Jewish workers in Palestine have learned to “conquer the work.” They have developed all kinds of handicrafts, and are becoming experts in their line. Here again there is a striking difference between our method of colonization and the general method. Other colonizing peoples employ the cheap labor of the natives, they exploit slavery for accomplishing their task. The Jewish workers in Palestine have raised labor to the highest degree.
“A complaint is made that the Sollel Bonch is not as efficient as it could be. I do not deny that there is room for improvement, but the workers’ leaders will be the first to welcome any reasonable suggestion for improving its efficiency and productivity.”
EMPHASIZES MISSION OF PEACE AND UNITY
Dr. Weizmann, in summing up, without mentioning the Jewish Agency, referred to his plan concerning the extension of the Jewish Agency. The mission of peace and unity is engraved not only upon my heart, but upon every hill and vale of Palestine. The {SPAN}###{/SPAN} sibility for upbuilding Palestine rests upon the entire Jewish people. Public opinion of the world calls upon every Jew. be he Zionist or non-Zionist, to do his duty in this direction. We must reach every Jew and urge him to do his share in the great task. We carry a heavy burden which can crush men much stronger than we are. The door must be opened wide for every Jew to enter and share in this responsibility. We have no right to leave out anyone. We have passed through great difficulties. We know, however what is our task and what is our duty and we march with sure steps toward the dawn of a new era in Palestine.” Dr. Weizmann concluded. The crowd gave Dr. Weizmann a tremendous ovation.
Dr. Wise, in his address, referred to Dr. Weizmann as a page of Jewish history. Mr. Neumann, in welcoming Dr. Weizmann stated:
“Last year the regularity of his visits was interrupted. Circumstances of a compelling nature detained him abroad: and we were deprived at least in the immediate sense, of his counsel and support.
“It was a difficult year. Our cause labored in heavy seas. In Poland our brother-Jews suffered economic collapse. The effect of the disaster could not be confined or localized. It crossed into Palestine causing a severe depression, bringing in its wake hardships and distress. There was talk of a crisis; and at once the word was seized upon and exploited by our antagonists. The manufacture of political capital out of shoddy materials is one of the oldest industries known to civilized society. Its technique dates back to the days of classical antiquity and has been carried to a high degree of perfection in this more efficient and competent age.
“And so throughout Europe there was an outburst of anti-Zionist propaganda. Our temporary difficulties in Palestine were exaggerated to fabulous proportions. Inspired prophets predicted the doom and downfall of our movement and the ruin of all our work. Unfriendly newspapers threw open their columns to the insincere Jeremiads of our opponents. Dead organizations that had been laid low in previous conflicts with the forces of Zionism were now again pressed into service. Their lifeless corpses were resurrected for the occasion and made to stalk grotesquely across the arena of Jewish life. Sinister figures crept out of dark corners to thrust a sword into the vitals of our national movement.
“The anti-Zionist wave spread to other parts, and threatened to inundated this country as well. Symptoms were not lacking. If that madness had succeeded here, it would have affected our movement at a most dangerous and vulnerable point; for it would have struck a blow at the base of supplies, upon which the progress of our work in Palestine so largely depends.
“We stand a disciplined and victorious host and salute him in whose hands is the supreme command. The hour is big with destiny. Weizmann is here to lead, and we rejoice in his leadership. His message and mission is peace. We are prepared to follow him in peace as we have followed him in war. We ardently desire peace with all who share our dreams and our visions, our responsibilities and our burdens. We are loath to regard as adversaries even those by whom we have been at times misunderstood. We yearn for that peace which comes from common striving for a common goal,” he stated.
Twenty kosher butchers of Newark, N. J., and Rabbi Jacob Mendelson, head of the Vaad Hakashruth of that city are scheduled to face trial November 29 on charges of a conspiracy to prevent the sale of kosher meat to butchers who are not members of the Kosher Butchers’ Association. All but four of these men, who were indicted last week, are members of the Association. Rabbi Mendelson is charged with refusing to issue certificates of kashruth to non-members of the Association. All men are under $1,000 bail each pending trial.
Adolph Copeland, Jewish communal leader in Chicago and head of the Hias branch in that city, was among those who attended the fare well dinner in New York last Sunday to Dr. Kreinin, head of the Emigdirekt who is returning to Berlin.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
