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Leaders Welcome the Non-zionist Conference on Jewish Agency

October 17, 1928
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The program of the extended Jewish Agency provides an opportunity for those American Jews who are not political Zionists to identify themselves with the practical aspects of the reconstruction work in Palestine, de-##d Henry Morgenchau. Jr., publisher of the “American Agriculturist,” in a statement commenting on the forthcoming Non-Zionist Conference on Palestine.

“The back-to-the-soil movement has become the most important and strongest effort put forth by the Jews all over the world, Mr. Morgenthau stated. “American Jewry has contributed many millions of dollars toward the Jewish colonization work in Russia, conducted under the able leadership of Dr. Rosen. More than 10,000 Jews are settled in the Jewish colonies, having been saved from economic destruction by this great undertaking.

“On October 20 a representative gathering of American Jews will take place in New York, and a new era in the colonization of Palestine will be opened. My father, who recently visited Palestine, has told me how deeply impressed he was at the sight of university bred men and women giving all of their strength to the up-building of Palestine. I have no doubt that Palestine will yet give to the world the finest example of the creativeness of Jewish genius. p/>”The program of this Jewish Agency provides for an opportunity to Jews who are not so-called political Zionists to identify themselves with the practical aspects of the reconstruction work in Palestine, in order that the Jews of Eastern Europe, having no other land to which to emigrate, may find an outlet for their labors in a country which is so sacred to our religious sentiments.

“I believe I express the sentiments of the Jewish farmers of America when I state that it is our hope, which we embody in our felicitations to the Jews of Palestine, that they accurately measure and appraise the role of agriculture in the life of their community by making it their principal endeavor. Jewish agriculture will create a people deeply rooted to the land in which they reside,” Mr. Morgenthau concluded.

“The Non-Zionist Conference should pave the way for a new unity among the Jews of this country” declared Alfred Shemaski of Seattle, chairman of the United Jewish Campaign for the State of Washington and Alaska upon his arrival from Europe.

“The forthcoming Non-Zionist Conference,” continued Mr. Shemanski,” has aroused intense interest in Jewish circles abroad. As far as the northwest is concerned I feel confident that our Jewish communities regard Mr. Louis Marshall’s call as the long awaited call for a new unity, and hope that the meeting under his chairmanship, to be held at the Biltmore Hotel, New York, on October 20-21, will be productive of a comprehensive, harmonious constructive program for the upbuilding of Palestine.”

Bronze plaques of Dr. Kaufmann Kohler and Dc. Isaac M. Wise, pioneers in American Beform Judaism, were unveiled and dedicated at Beth Sholom People’s Temple Brooklyn, New York.

The plaque of Dr. Kohler was made by his danghter. Miss Rose Kohler and that of On wise by the Bezalel Art School of Jerusalem. Speakers included Rabbi Reichler, Max J. Kohler, son of Dr. Kohler, and Rabbi Jonah B. Wise, son of Dr. Wise.

Dedication exercises for the Jewish Sanitarium for Incurables, Brooklyn, were held Sunday afternoon.

Attorney General Albert Ottinger, Republican nominee for Governor and Supreme Coart Justice Mitchell May, Congressman Emanuel Celler were the speakers. George Blumberg was master of ceremonies.

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