Sir Wyndham Deedes, Distinguished Visitor, is Feted by Zionists

A luncheon for Sir Wyndham Deedes, former civil secretary of the Palestine government who has come to the United States to aid in the United Palestine Appeal, was given last Thursday at the Commodore Hotel prior to Sir Wyndham’s departure for the west.

Emanuel Neumann, executive chairman of the United Palestine Appeal, presided. Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Dr. Stephen S. Wise and Morris Rothenberg, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Keren Hayesod, welcomed the distinguished guest.

In describing the devotion of Sir Wyndham for the Zionist movement and his helpfulness during his stay in Palestine, Dr. Weizmann stated: “We Jews have no titles to confer. We have only one expression which may be properly applied to Sir Wyndham. He is one of the ‘Chassidei Umoth Ha’olam’ (Righteous men of the nations) and as such he will long be remembered.”

Sir Wynham Deedes, in a lengthy address, outlined his attitude toward the Zionist movement and his belief in the ultimate success of the rebuilding of Palestine as the Jewish national home. He urged the non-Jewish world to set aside its prejudices with regard to Jews and help in the rebuilding of Palestine as it will give the Jewish people an opportunity to live a wholly Jewish life, which will be an example for the entire world.

Sir Wyndham stated that the Jews in Palestine will have the opportunity of showing the world the real meaning of the national idea.

“I regard Zionism as a national, religious movement,” he stated. “I often fail to understand why some view Zionism as a purely national movement which is totally secular and is opposed to religion. So far as Jewish life goes, the national idea and religion are so closely interwoven that they are inseparable. We should not overlook the fact that in Judaism the religion was a natural development of the life of the nation and was not superimposed upon an already existing national culture as was the case with the Christian nations.

“An opportunity for the Jewish people to live a wholly Jewish life will be a tremendous thing for the world to observe and emulate,” he declared.

COL. LEHMAN TO DIRECT SMITH’S 1928 CAMPAIGN

Colonel Herbert H. Lehman will succeed Lieut. Gov. Edwin Corning as chairman of the Democratic State Committee. He will also become the temporary head of the movement to nominate Governor Smith for President, it was stated.

Col. Lehman directed Gov. Smith’s last campaign for the Governorship.

Twenty-six Jewish students are among the 324 undergraduates at Yale who were awarded honors for high scholastic records.