The creation of a separate Zionist fund for the spread of the Hebrew language and culture in Jewish communities outside of Palestine was advocated by Isaac Gruenbaum, speaking at Tuesday night’s session of the Zionist Congress, devoted to the Hebrew culture question.
The proceedings were conducted in Hebrew and were presided over by M. M. Ussishkin. The chairman did not permit the reading of communications in any language but Hebrew.
A refugee from Russia, a Hebraist, whose name was not disclosed, in order not to endanger his friends who remained in the country, was given the floor. He described the persecution of the Soviet authorities against the Hebraists and the Hebrew language in Soviet Russia. He appealed to the Congress to raise its voice in protest and to stir world Jewry against the conditions obtaining in Russia. He stated that Russian Jewry will not be hurt by these protests, since its plight cannot be any worse than it is now. The Jewish sections of the Communist party have instigated a vigorous campaign against the Hebraists, who are denounced as the only contra revolutionaries and are being exiled to Siberia without due process of law. The Soviet Commissariat of Education is aware of the conditions and is not free of guilt. Lunacharsky pursues a two-faced policy in this matter, the refugee stated.
The chairman, Mr. Ussishkin, expressed his thanks to the refugee and gave him words of encouragement to the Zionist martyrs in Russia. He stated taht the victory of truth is sure to come, the delegates applauding.
Hillel Zlatapolsky of Paris, Moses Gordon of Warsaw, Mr. Wolfsberg, Mizrachi delegate, and Vladimir Jabotinsky, participated in the discussion.
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