Louis Lipsky and Bialik Sail for Europe; Poet Describes Impressions

Louis Lipsky, president of the Zionist Organization of America, and Chaim Nachman Bialik, Hebrew poet, sailed yesterday on the steamer Aquitania for Europe. Mr. Lipsky will attend the meeting of the Zionist Actions Committee which will take place in London on July 22.

Mr. Bialik, who left the United States following a stay of five months, during which he was active in behalf of the United Palestine Appeal, in a press interview summarized his impressions of America and American Jewry.

Emphasizing the youth of the American nation, its power and wealth, resulting in a rapid tempo of work and life and in the development of an extraordinary technique and organization power, Mr. Bialik stated: “With the Jewish community of America the situation is entirely different. The Jews, whether they want it or not, have behind them the heritage of a past and a culture. It is impossible to throw off this past entirely. One must, if one does not want to go under, preserve much of this past. One must also care and care greatly for the future. For the Jews, even in America, the future is far from secure. The carefree mien of Jews in America and the supposedly self-satisfied noise makes the undesirable impression of a poor recital of some one else’s song. Their exaggerations are not the foam of an overflowing cup, but nothing more than soap bubbles. It is not a proof of an overflow, but under it lies a limited conception and a feeling of powerlessness coupled with internal uncertainty.

“I think that American Zionists are not yet ripe enough for the great role which has fallen upon them in the Zionist movement. Their conception is still too small. They still consider their giving for Zionism as a sort of charity. That is the reason for the small scale by which they measure the reconstruction of Palestine. In the best of cases Zionism is being motivated here by negative reasons and finds its source in the difficult situation in the Diaspora. The reconstruction of Palestine is being considered here mainly as an act of charity for the suffering brethren in Eastern Europe. American Zionists are not yet fully permeated with the substance of Zionism as a goal in itself. They have not yet conceived the great internal value of Zionism for the resurrection of Jewish honor all over the world. They don’t know yet that the reconstruction of Palestine would be more necessary for the Jews if the Jews in the Diaspora countries would be forever assured of a bearable existence. With welfare and equality, the danger can be avoided only through the resurrection of the Jewish people in Palestine.

“However, the task of bringing to American Zionists the proper conception of Zionism is not an easy one. Thorough instruction and deeply rooted cultural work is necessary. A group of propagandists of the highest calibre who should not be preachers but educators of the people is necessary to place Zionism here on its true high level. American Zionists will then begin to understand that with charity one cannot go far in the reconstruction of Palestine. In the manner in which the work is now being conducted, the process is too slow. We have not much time to wait. With $5,000,000 annually, one can perhaps build an Isaac Elchanan Seminary, but not Palestine. I believe that American Jewry is now riper than ever before to conceive the proper meaning of Zionism and well organized educational work will have success. The Jews of America would do well to learn from the American people its spirit of initiative, large scope and organization, and then the reconstruction of Palestine would be realized much sooner than anyone might think,” Mr. Bialik declared.

Commenting on the internal state of affairs in American Jewry, Mr. Bialik stated: “I had little occasion to become acquainted with the every day life in America. I met mainly ‘holiday Zionists’ at banquet tables. I assume, however, that American Jews, particularly the masses, constitute a material which is susceptible to Zionist influence. The question is only who will lead the people.”

Mr. Bialik expressed dissatisfaction with the communal leadership of American Jewry. “To my regret the leaders of American Jewry, of both the right and the left wings, are not on the proper level. I find fair play among the ‘Yahudim’ although I must say that their idealogy is extremely dangerous for the existence of Jewry. The same can be said of the Orthodox rabbis. Certainly there are many high minded personalities among the Orthodox rabbis, but they have no say in the communities. They are mainly modest men who remain in the background. On the surface there appear ‘rabbis’ of a certain American type who have transformed their rabbinical chair into a business. It often comes even to a profanation of the name.” Mr. Bialik quoted an ancient Aramaic proverb: “Kad ragiz Raya al ana, avid I’ngida Samaytha” (When the shepherd becomes angry with his sheep, he designates a blind ram to lead the herd). There is nothing left, he stated, but to expect better communal leadership.

Mr. David Remes, member of the Palestine labor delegation, sailed on the Leviathan for London where he will attend the meeting of the Zionist Actions Committee. Mr. Remes spent five months in the United States, where he assisted in the Palestine workmen’s campaign.

The Socialist unofficial convention, in session in Finnish Hall, New York, nominated Judge Jacob Panken, of the Municipal Court, for Governor. This designation is a recommendation to the official convention, which meets in October.