Hold Long Debate on Principle of Zionism; Exclusion of Pro-Palestine Committee Members Demanded but Rejected; Professor Praises Business Initiative of American Jews (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Cooperation with Zionists in the practical work of the upbuilding of Palestine was decided upon as the program of the Central Union of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith at the sessions of the biannual convention of the organization concluded yesterday.
The Central Verein, the largest German Jewish organization, reached this decision following a debate which lasted all day, during which the principles involved were thoroughly discussed.
A report on the subject was submitted by Dr. Ludwig Hollaender, director of the Central Verein, who declared that the Central Verein is an organization of German citizens who hold similar views on matters of religion. The organization, therefore, cannot identify itself with the principle accepted by the Zionists. German Jews are Germans and not a part of a “Jewish nation.” Palestine, however, represents a partial solution of the Jewish economic problem and for this reason cooperation in the practical work is possible, he argued.
The Zionist delegates who participated in the discussion argued that the Central Verein is a body intended to be a defense organization against racial hatred and anti-Semitism. The Zionists are included in this program.
The extreme anti-Zionists opposed this view and introduced a resolution asking for the exclusion from the organization of Rabbi Leo Baeck, Chief Rabbi of Berlin, and Georg Bernhard, editor of the “Vossiche Zeitung,” who have joined the German Pro-Palestine Committee.
Mr. Bernhard, who participated in the discussion, pointed to the common religious lot of all Jewry as a historic fact which cannot be denied or ignored. The issuance of the Balfour declaration and the practical upbuilding of Palestine are effective weapons against anti-Semitism, he declared.
The convention finally decided to adope the thesis of Mr. Holtaender, which calls for cooperation in the practical work without identification with the Zionist idealogy.
The convention rejected the proposal of the anti-Zionists to exclude Rabbi Baeck and Mr. Bernhard.
The decision of the convention, it was seared will not be binding on the anti-Zionists, who will it was declared, continue to combat the nationalist ideology of the Zionists.
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