[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval-Editor.]
(Owing to lack of space the following digest was omitted from the survey of the Zionist-Revisionist program which appeared in the “Bulletin” of March 9 under the heading, “Jabotinsky’s Program Discussed By American Jewish Press.”)
Criticism of the program of the Zionists-Revisionists, as formulated by their leader, Vladimir Jabotinsky, who is now lecturing in America, was made in an article by Dr. S. Bernstein in the Feb. 12 issue of “Dos Yiddishe Folk,” organ of the Zionist Organization of America.
Enumerating the economic-organizational demands of the Revisionists Dr. Bernstein concludes that they do not constitute a new program. “With all the sympathy which every Jew feels toward the well-meaning motives expressed in these demands, it is nevertheless regrettable that a personality like Mr. Jabotinsky presents such self-evident facts and terms then a new program. All these things which he talks about are now already in existence partly and have been discussed in the Jewish press for the last two years,” Dr. Bern-stein declares.
Regarding the two points in Jabotinsky’s political demands which relate to a protective tariff for Palestine and the transfer of the State and waste lands to Jews for cultivation, the writer says:
“It is scarcely a year since certain industrial developments in Palestine have had their beginnings. Some improvements in the tariff system have already been made and, of course, the responsible institutions are doing all they can to reach the desired end. But a protective tariff can not be established overnight. This requires time. effort and patience. It can only be accomplished through negotiations with the government.”
The immediate transfer of the State and waste lands to the Jews in accordance with Jabotinsky’s conception, would, Dr. Bernstein contends, be in the nature of expropriating land to which certain Arabs still law claim and would cause more harm than good. “The entire Jewish world welcomed the recommendation of the League of Nations that some of the State lands be handed over to the Jews and everyone has the sure feeling that when the psychological moment arrives, the negotiations with the Mandatory power and possibly with other parties will lead to the desired results,” the writer declares.
DROPSIE COLLEGE
The age-old dream of Jewish scholars everywhere a Jewish University–found its fulfilment in American Jewry, the youngest Jewish community in the world, it is pointed out in the “Jewish Daily News” of March 10 by Zwi Cohev, who writes about Dropsie College on the occasion of its celebration of Founders’ Day.
Referring to various movements in recent years in the countries of the Diaspora for a Jewish university, Mr. Cohen says it is strange that “very few remembered that in reality a Jewish university had been in existence for some time and right here in America.”
“Dropsie College–that is the Jewish university of which many Jewish scholars dreamt in the past and of which some in Europe still dream. It is the place where great emphasis is laid on Bible research from the Jewish standpoint; where the development of Jewish law from its first beginnings to the latest times is elucidated; where Hebrew is studied…it is the place where the Jewish spirit resides, searches and creates.”
The writer, giving an outline of the history of the college, declares it was fortunate for the institution that Dr. Cyrus Adler was placed at its head from the start. “It is due to this perhaps,” we are told “that the college exists and continues to develop more and more and that it has become a center for Jewish scholars and scientists.”
JEWISH COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES
Five hundred men and women played the role of big brother and big sister to as many Jewish boys and girls during 1925, the annual report read at the joint meeting of the Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sisters, at Temple Emanu-El, New York, Tuesday night, showed. The Big Brothers and Big Sisters are under the Committee on Field Activities of the Jewish Board of Guardians. Mrs. Sidney C. Borg is chairman of the committee and Mortimer L. Schiff is president of the Board of Guardians.
Dr. Nathan Krass, Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, in the principal address of the evening, spoke on “The New Three R’s.” and described the advance which has been made by social service in coping with delinquency. Louis Marshall, who presided, spoke on “The Big Brothers as Crime Preventers.”
The reports of the organizations showed that the average number of monthly visits by the Big Brothers and Big Sisters is 3.4, approximating thereby over 9,700 visits during the year by the Big Brothers and about as many by the Big Sisters. Through the organizations, Jewish children have been brought under the influence of settlements and clubs, scout troops, religious schools, libraries and music schools. In many cases, the children have opened accounts in savings banks as a result of the lessons in thrift.
Tulsa. Oklahoma, began its drive for the United Jewish Campaign at a luncheon on Monday, March 8th, at which $10,000 was contributed by a small group that participated and organized a permanent committee, with Emil Salomon, chairman.
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