Two hundred leading Zionists and non-Zionists of New York joined on Tuesday evening, November 20 at the Hotel Astor to pay tribute to Dr. Chaim Weizmann, President of the World Zionist Organization, for his achievement in bringing about unity between all factions in American Jewry on the subject of Palestine, and to wish him godspeed for his journey to England, from where he will go to Germany, France, Belgium, Poland and other countries to take up the final negotiations for the establishment of the Jewish Agency. Dr. Weizmann left Wednesday night for Europe, on the Berengaria.
In expressing his gratitude for the praise and good wishes, Dr. Weizmann predicted great progress for upbuilding in Palestine and made the forecast that the time would come when the Jewish National Homeland would be even greater than the present political boundaries of Palestine.
The toastmaster at the banquet was Mr. Morris Rothenberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Palestine Appeal, who, in the opening address, outlined the history of Jewish efforts for the recreation of a Jewish Palestine. Touching upon the events that had culminated in the Balfour Declaration and the approval of the pledge by the world powers, Mr. Rothenberg referred to Dr. Weizmann as “the instrument through which history was working in all these extraordinary events.”
Dr. Mordecai M. Kaplan, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Zionist Organization of America spoke of the place of Dr. Weizmann in Zionist history, and his role in the stimulation of Jewish ideals. Quoting the Hebrew prayer, in which God is asked to return the Jewish people to Palestine in dignity, Dr. Kaplan declared that Dr. Weizmann was the answer to that prayer. In winning all elements of American Jewry to the cause of Palestine, the dignity of the rebuilding work is assured.
In introducing Mr. Felix Warburg as the next speaker, Mr. Rothenberg referred to “the quickness with which he has entered into the affections of the Zionists throughout the country, and how quick they were to sense the genuine warmth of his feeling toward Palestine, and the generosity of his feelings towards the problems in Palestine.”
Wishing Dr. and Mrs. Weizmann godspeed, and praising Mrs. Weizmann for the inspiration she had given her husband, Mr. Warburg expressed his appreciation of Dr. Weizmann’s friendship and said, “the meetings which we have held lately have been so pleasant that it is a real joy to have anything to do with the movement.” Mr. Warburg praised Dr. Weizmann’s leadership, and concluded with the hope that “the famous Jewish Agency will be an agent in the coming Spring and active.”
Dr. Lee K. Frankel, one of the members of the Joint Palestine Survey Commission, who was spoken of by Mr. Rothenberg as having approached his task on the Commission “with remarkable objectivity and wide experience in investigation, praised the “depth and profundity of Dr. Weizmann’s character.” The speaker urged the necessity for definite action in Palestine that would continue the labors that the Zionist leader had achieved. “I am not particularly interested in the material aspects, yet without them, it cannot succeed. It must be our first step in our first undertaking.” Dr. Frankel also spoke of the indispensability of Dr. Weizmann to the Zionist cause.
Mr. Rothenberg read a message from Judge Otto A. Rosalsky, who had been unable to attend the banquet because of a previous speaking engagement for the Federation. In this message, Judge Rosalsky announced his acceptance of the Chairmanship of the United Palestine Appeal for Greater New York, saying:
“I have had the honor and privilege of serving for the past two years as chairman of the United Palestine Appeal for Greater New York, and have given to the noble cause of Palestine the best service it was possible for me to render. It was my intention to retire from active leadership this year, but I have been urged to accept the office of chairman once more in view of the importance of the impending campaign not only for Palestine and the Zionist cause, but also because of its importance for the creation of unity and harmony in American Jewry ## overcome by the feeling that I can do something to promote that unity in American Israel which was so auspiciously inaugurated at the recent non-Partisan Conference held in New York under the chairmanship of Mr. Louis Marshall. The extension of the Jewish Agency provides an opportunity to break down the barriers between the various elements in the American Jewish community. The power and the spiritual value of a Jewish Palestine will bring about a consolidation of Jewish forces that will build up not only a Jewish National Home and will be helpful in strengthening Jewish tradition everywhere, but will give force and influence to the development of a Jewish civilization that will redound to the benefit of humanity in general. Every right-thinking Jew should be found backing the new unity that has been created and to give it support at this time when hearty general cooperation is essential for its development.
“I have therefore accepted the invitation to continue as Chairman of the United Palestine Appeal, and call upon all who are concerned for the future of Israel and in the redemption of Zion, to be generous in their support of the Appeal during the coming year. It is a heavy responsibility, but I know that the Jews of Greater New York will respond to the call of duty.”
Mr. Abraham Goldberg, member of the Administrative Committee of the Zionist Organization of America, was then called upon by Mr. Rothenberg as “one who has been active in the cause of Zionism for the past twenty-five years or more, and who has always been a staunch supporter of the Jewish Agency.” Mr. Goldberg, speaking Yiddish, lauded Dr. Weizmann’s achievement, and playing upon a reference by Dr. Frankel to Dr. Weizmann as a chemist, and as having a mystic belief in the Zionist cause, Mr. Goldberg called the latter an alchemist, who succeeds in uniting various elements and to obtain “gold,” enlisting their joint cooperation.
Dr. Samuel Schulman, rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, who was for thirty years an opponent of political Zionism, in his opening remarks referred to this opposition declaring:
“It was a joy to be here and to show by my presence that I too have learned to honor and love Dr. Weizmann. I know quite well where I stand. I am quite happy to be here. This is, first and foremost, of course, an occasion for felicitation to the distinguished man and friend whom we delight to honor. It is nothing new in Israel. It is as old as the history of our people, because, while our leaders in the past, with that frankness, with that intellectual honesty, which enabled them to carry on controversies, and then to look each other in the face and speak their opinions as they believe them, at the same time loved each other and ##. their differences lay the brotherhood of Israel.
“We must recognize that this is more than an occasion of tribute to a personality, great as that personality is. This, to my mind, is a celebration of the unity of Israel. With respect to that unity, I never had a doubt. It is well known that for a whole generation I opposed this movement. Please, don’t think I am affected when I say that I opposed it with a bleeding heart. Because, nothing that deeply concerns Jews and Judaism could ever be so alien to me that, even if I had reasons to attack it, I could do so with joy. That I could never do. Though I differed with the Zionists in my point of view, at the same time I realized that idealism, that yearning for Israel’s unity and unbroken spirit. That was something great. Therefore, it was nothing new to me to be able to cross the lines, to admire and revere the personalities who are standing on the other side.
“Now, then, at last, after thirty years, we were able at that historic meeting to create something which shall show the world that, despite our theoretic differences, there is such a thing, nevertheless, as the unity of Israel, when great opportunities confront Israel.
“What is this unity in Israel? This unity is something which transcends differences of the interpretation of our religion, differences even in the practice of our religion, differences in the philosophy of Jewish life.”
Dr. Schulman was followed by Louis Marshall, President of the American Jewish Committee. “It taxes the power of any toastmaster to present adequately that great Jew, whose life is an illustrious and unbroken record of service to his people and everything that concerns their welfare,” was Mr. Rothenberg’s introduction of him.
During his speech, Mr. Marshall made announcement of the fact that he had handed over to Dr. Weizmann an agreement which he believed would effectually settle all the differencs that had arisen in the Zionist Council on the Survey Commission Report, and which differences had been embodied in a number of reservations that had been adopted.
“We have found a common platform, a common interest, a common hope,” Mr. Marshall said, referring to the plan whereby Zionists and non-Zionists will unite for the upbuilding of Palestine, “and have formed a common resolution to do all that lies in human power to redeem the land and the people. Dr. Weizmann has performed the labors of Hercules, because he has had to overcome stupendous difficulties. He has had great trials and serious tribulations. He has always been inspired by a great ideal.”
Mr. Marshall expressed the hope that Dr. Weizmann would be as successful in his negotiations leading to the Jewish Agency in Europe as he had been in America. “It is the first step that counts,” Mr. Marshall said. “And that has been taken. I am happy to say that this evening I delivered to Dr. Weizmann a document which I am quite sure will bring about a complete understanding between us and the Zionist General Council. We have done everything that we have contracted to do in this country, except to name our delegates. But that is a simple thing. We do not have to persuade people to accept membership on the Jewish Agency. They will be entirely willing to serve. I have sufficient confidence in the ability as an alchemist and as a chemist, of Dr. Weizmann, to feel that the metals which have yielded to his touch here are no different from those with which he is to be confronted abroad, and that he will be able, within a very short time, to unite Jews abroad so that we will be able, by next Fall, to have the first meeting of the Jewish Agency.”
The final speaker was Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who expressed his appreciation of the occasion, and praised the American leaders who had taken an outstanding part in facilitating the consummation of the Jewish Agency. Turning to Mr. Marshall, he said: “You have been able to inscribe the most illustrious page in Jewish history, a record of great work for our people,” and expressed the hope that Mr. Marshall would himself be able to visit Palestine to see the work that is being done there. Dr. Weizmann stated that “the execution of the Jewish Agency, a common working instrument, would begin in the course of the next summer.”
“I think that the majority of the Zionists are agreed on this co-operation with non-Zionists. The Agency should be working in the course of the next summer. Because, I think that Palestine needs you very badly. The burden of upbuilding is becoming heavier with every day. The speed with which we are going is not sufficiently great. The reaching of the objective depends on us. Other things are happening in the world and in the movement which require a united front. I may say, to me, at any rate, that the moral values of the Agency are greater than the possible material values which may result from it. Not that I do not appreciate the necessity for material support, but I do think that if there are not these moral values we shall never get the material values. The weakness of our situation was that we were a sect in Jewry, that we were a minority.
Dr. Weizmann characterized the source of his strength for Zionist work as his “indestructible faith in the destiny of a people which is, by its very nature, indestructible.”
In concluding, Dr. Weizmann said: “It is possible that Palestine can spread out. Peace with the world, unity among the Jews, and Jewish energies will spread beyond the present political borders of Palestine . . . I see the inadequacy of our own means. I see the difference between our desires and the possibilities. When things become very difficult, I have one remedy. I go to Jerusalem, climb up Mt. Scopus and look at all the beauty of the Jordan, the power of Jerusalem and the hard rocks in which is written the history of our people. Out of the rocky ancient cemetery, where the Seers, Saints and Sages of Israel lay a voice sometimes tell us that we belong to a generation of pygmies who are attempting to do the work of giants. Carrying on the tradition of seers and prophets, one must know that we are doing something which is not for a day, but for all eternity, and which will redound to the credit of the Jews of all the world.”
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.
