Nahum Sokolow, chairman of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization, sailed for London on Friday night on the steamer Majestic. From London Mr. Sokolow will proceed to South Africa where he will lead in the work of raising Palestine Funds there.
A farewell luncheon was tendered Mr. Sokolow by the American Zionist Executive at the Pennsylvania Hotel on Friday. Many prominent Zionist leaders and newspaper men were present.
When interviewed by the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency prior to his departure, Mr. Sokolow stated that Zionism in America must cease to be a dollar Zionism and become a spiritual movement.
There is no question that the Zionist movement in the United States has increased in quantity tenfold since my visit here four years ago. The understanding of the aims of political Zionism has also grown. The question, however, remains to be answered whether American Jews are to be the financial agents of Zionism and spend their energy only in raising dollars for Zionist work or whether they should become true Zionists. The time has arrived when Zionist work in America must no longer have a money raising character but also a spiritual character.
“Great educational work must be begun among the youth and the masses. The danger of ignorance in things Jewish is too great to be longer ignored. This is the task of the Zionist Organization. I have the feeling that there is a spiritual hunger prevalent in the Jewish community in America. All spiritual forces available in this work must be organized for the benefit and the future of the Jewish community here,” Mr. Sokolow declared.
Mr. Sokolow expressed his satisfaction and thanks for the warm reception accorded him by American Jews.
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.
