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.]

Satisfaction at the outcome of the Chicago conference is voiced by “Dos Yiddishe Folk,” (Oct. 15), official organ of the Zionist Organization of America. The Zionist organ feels that the conference has expressed a new attitude toward Palestine and therefore harmony between the leaders of the J. D. C. and the Zionists is now possible.

“The Jewish public has accepted the results of the Chicago conference with a feeling of deep satisfaction and pleasant surprise. There is a feeling,” the “Yiddishe Folk” writes, “that Chicago has shown more than was expected-a sincere desire to see American Jewry strengthened and united. The unanimous earnestness and sincerity which were demonstrated in Chicago in regard to the actual problems of Palestine are a fact which must to a large extent dispel whatever doubts there may be and which must create an atmosphere of friendship and cooperation. We frequently had the opportunity to emphasize that we never doubted the favorable attitude of the J. D. C. leaders to the reconstruction problems of Palestine. Men like Louis Marshall and Felix Warburg realize their responsibility for solemnly accepted promises. But even for those who had no such doubts it was important to affirm that this favorable attitude does not satisfy itself merely with the platonic statements, but that a living tendency has been evinced to treat Palestine as a natural part of the general relief budget. The relief methods which were proclaimed in Chicago are no longer the old philanthropic methods. It is a reconstruction work of the greatest significance. From this point of view, we feel certain, that these tendencies will find a wide field of activity in the Jewish Homeland. Palestine is now the most actual and most promising element of the Jewish relief activity and therefore the appeal for a common, harmonious effort which was issued from Chicago will, no doubt, make a sympathetic impression in the widest circles of American Jewry.”

That as a result of the Chicago conference Dr. Weizmann will find it easier to conclude the creation of the Jewish Agency, is the opinion of the Jewish Tribune as voiced in an editorial over Herman Bernstein’s signature.

“The resolution, containing the reaffirmation and ratification of the Philadelphia resolution regarding Palestine, was adopted with genuine enthusiasm. The delegates were thrilled by the address of Felix M. Warburg and Benjamin Winter, in favor of this resolution,” Mr. Bernstein declares.

“The real significance and value of this historic conference lie in the fact that the way has now been paved for unity and cooperation in American Jewry. Many of the perplexing difficulties have now been removed, and the task of Dr. Chaim Weizmann to create the Jewish Agency will be much easier now. The trivial causes of friction and irritation that make for schisms and divisions in American Jewry must be put aside in order that we may all work unitedly for the all-compelling task of saving the Jews in the lands of exile and of rehabilitating Palestine for Israel.”

SAYS AUGUST HECKSCHER DESCENDS FROM NOTED RABBI

The belief that August Heckscher, the New York philanthropist, who has just returned from Europe with a plan for the improvement of housing conditions on the East Side, is a descendent of a noted Jewish rabbi, is entertained by the “Jewish Morning Journal.” Writing in its issue of October 15, the paper says:

“Rabbi Ephraim ben Shmuel Zanwill Heckscher, of Altuna, near Hamburg, was the head of the Kehillah in that city in the beginning of the eighteenth century. He was a great Jewish scholar and in the “Treasure of Books’ mention is made of three volumes of which he was the author and which were published in the year 1703. We have heard the opinion or assumption that he was the great grandfather of the New York philanthropist, August Heckscher, who has already given large sums for various purposes and who has now put forth a plan to create a fund of a half billion dollars to reconstruct the tenement house district of New York. We are not certain whether the present Mr. Heckscher is aware or whether he admits he is of Jewish descent, not are we sufficiently interested in the question to make an investigation regarding it.”

Referring to Mr. Heckscher’s proposal to draw up a list of 500 New Yorkers who are to be asked to give $100,000 each year for a period of five years for the purpose of the housing reconstruction, the paper says it would like very much to see this list, in order to ascertain how many Jews will be on it.

“The Jewish percentage norm on such lists is very high,” the paper continues. “But for us it can never be too high. We would like to see every Jew whom the Almighty has helped, do as much for the city, for the country and for the whole of mankind, as he possibly can. We consider it wrong to attack those of our wealthy brothers who give large sums for general purposes. Our own attitude is that they should have given more and it would then be easier to secure from them contributions for local and general Jewish purposes. All that we desire is their names and addresses, nor are we the only ones in this respect. Mr. David A. Brown would like to have them, Mr. Louis Lipsky would like to have them. Let the great grandson of the author of ‘Adnei Poz’ (Golden Thresholds) publish the names of his clients, and Jewish drives in New York will in future have greater success than they have had hitherto.”

Lewis A. Abrams, former Assistant District Attorney, was nominated for Justice of the Municipal Court in the Seventh District at a meeting of the members of the Democratic County Committee of the district. The nomination was for the vacancy caused by the death of Presiding Justice Samson.

Mr. Abrams was born in New York City March 5, 1872. He was admitted to the bar in 1897 and in 1902 was elected to the Assembly. He was a member of the Change of Grade Commission, which settled claims against the city of nearly $100,000,000, and was an Assistant District Attorney during the Administration of Edward Swann.