(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The amount of $125,000 was given to the Keren Hayesod through the Zionist Federation of England, by Mr. Bernard Baron, well known Anglo-Jewish philanthropist.
The presentation was made by Mr. Baron at a public gathering where Lord Allenby, the conqueror of Palestine, was presented with a silver casket from the Zionist Federation.
Mr. Baron made the presentation of the $125,000 check to Lord Allenby who, handing it over to Mr. Philip Guedalla, president of the Federation who acted as chairman, referred to the Torah which was presented to him by the Jewish community of Jerusalem in 1917. “The Torah is the true emblem of unity and the cause for which we fought,” Lord Allenby declared.
“All that Zionists need now is moral and financial support,” he said. “The reason for the success of Zionism is its enthusiasm combined with an absolute belief in the cause. I have never seen a greater enthusiast than Dr. Weizmann. The effect of Zionism on Palestine is a most marvelous one. Palestine today is the corner in the Near East which is quiet and peaceful, prosperous and contented,” Lord Allenby declared.
“Zionism is a difficult problem because the non-Zionists treat it as a unification of religion and nationality.
“The Jews in England were once regarded as an alien race. Now Jews and Christians are equal citizens and loyal subjects,” he declared.
In his address Dr. Weizmann declared that the sympathy and devotion of an ancient race is the greatest reward for the liberator of Palestine. Turning to Mr. Baron, Dr. Weizmann expressed the wish that he visit Palestine shortly to see the result of the Zionist work there.
Following the gathering, Lord Allenby proceeded to the Stepney Synagogue where a memorial to the East London Jewish soldiers who fell in the World War was unveiled. In his address at the unveiling Lord Allenby stated that the Jews have fulfilled their duty to the country faithfully and that there were no finer fighters than the Jews. The fact that Jerusalem was captured without bombardment did a great deal for cementing the feeling of solidarity of all religions in the British Empire, he said.
Dr. Joseph Hertz, in his sermon, declared that the 674 men whose names were inscribed on the tablet will live forever in the memories of British Jews.
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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.
