Daily Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval.–Editor.]

The emphasis laid by Mr. Lipsky, in his statement recently, upon his return from Europe, where he conferred with Weizmann and the other members of the World Zionist Executive, that American Zionists must assume the leadership in the Zionist movement, is commented upon by the “Juedische Rundschau” of Berlin, organ of the German Zionists.

Pointing out that the fate of Palestine reconstruction lies in the hands of the American Jews, owing to the economic ruin that has befallen the Jewries in Europe, the “Rundschau” declares:

“We here on the old continent fully appreciate this situation and we understand that the Americans, upon whose shoulders the ever increasing responsibility is falling, must also assume the formal responsibility. Mr. Lipsky’s assertion that America must take over the leadership will undoubtedly arouse the enthusiasm of our steadfastly working American friends.”

Referring to Mr. Lipsky’s observations on the question of the Jewish Agency, the “Rundschau” writes: “Hitherto the Jewish Agency has been primarily an American affair. We continental Zionists who advocated the extension of the Agency regarded the problem as a purely practical one in the light of the American situation. The securing of larger means for the reconstruction of Palestine through the cooperation within the sphere of the Jewish Agency of the friendly non-Zionists in American Jewry, seemed to us worth striving for. Recent developments, however, have changed the mood in America.”

The “Rundschau” believes the American Zionists will shortly revise their position on the matter of the Jewish Agency and concludes: “In this American question it is necessary to reserve judgment. If the Americans will drop the Jewish Agency then a new grouping will take place no doubt within the Zionist Congress.”

SAYS INTERMARRIAGE CANNOT SOLVE PROBLEM OF JEW AND GENTILE

That intermarriage cannot solve the problem of the relations between Jews and Gentiles is the opinion expressed in an article in “Liberty” magazine (March 13) by Franklin Fargo, who discusses the recent marriage of Irving Berlin and Ellin Mackay.

In the course of the article, which is the first of a series dealing with the relations of Jews and Gentiles in the United States, the writer says:

“The Christian does not discourage the marriage of his children with Jews more sincerely than the Jew proscribes such unions. Perhaps, being less jealous of his identity because of a sense of superior strength, the Christian is not always so severe in his objection to such intermarriage. The Jews, lacking a nation in fact, must combat all invasions of their homogeneity if they are to present a worthy strength.

“Whether Gentile or Jew, one may not separate himself, as a knife shears away a leg, an arm, or an ear, from his traditions, which may be older in centuries than the possessor of those traditions is in years.”

In celebration of his ninetieth birthday, Abram G. Hutzler of Baltimore, Md., was the guest of honor at a dinner at the Phoenix Club. About 150 persons from Baltimore, New York and Newark attended.

The speakers included Jacob S. Rosenthal, of New York; Rabbi Edward L. Israel, of the Har Sinai Temple; Albert Berney and Jacob S. Frank.