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 signing of the statement by Dr. Weizmann, on behalf of the Zionist Organization and Louis Marshall, on behalf of the American non-Zionists, on the establishment of the Jewish Agency, has finally brought about a united front of all classes of American Jewry for the reconstruction of Palestine.

The solution of the problem of rebuilding Palestine through well-financed scientific methods, declares the “Day” in Tuesday’s issue, is nearer realization and the chances for success in the United Palestine Appeal are doubled as a result of the historic meeting in Mecca Temple on Monday, Jan. 17. The “Day” continues:

“This colossal, amost astounding change in the Zionist position today is due to the wise, far sighted statesmanship of Dr. Weizmann.

“It is impossible to read the exchange of letters between Dr. Weizmann and Louis Marshall without becoming permeated with a feeling of profound admiration for Dr. Weizmann’s unsurpassable tact. The leader o the World Zionist Organization had a tremendously difficult task before him. He was confronted with the necessity of repairing, if not apologizing for, the action of the American Zionists against the J. D. C. group, centered around Marshall, while at the same time he had to spare the feelings of the Zionist leaders, who, regardless of the misstep they made, are, after all, the chief pillars on which American Zionism and the Palestine reconstruction work in general must rest. From this immensely difficult situation Dr. Weizmann succeeded in finding a way out. The Zionist leaders, though somewhat hurt perhaps, will remain loyal and the Marshall group certainly has every reason to be satisfied. Now, after months of wrangling, the atmosphere has been cleared of suspicion and bitterness and the Jewish Agency, the hope of two Zionist Congresses, is to become a living and vitalizing factor in the reconstruction of the Jewish national homeland.

“The happy change in the situation,” the paper continues, “does not free the American Zionists of their difficult duties. The main burden of creating the funds for the Palestine work still rests on their shoulders. The new peace in American Jewry will have to be considerably older before it will be able to yield the full, ripe fruits for the Palestine movement. But the fact alone that a foundation for a united front has been laid, that an investigation for a common effort will be made and that at the head of the present work in New York stands such a well tried leader as Judge Rosalsky, who knows how to lead and command differnt armies, is a victory in itself which is bound to grow bigger with every step of progress.

“Dr. Weizmann’s statemenship has won a great deal already. Now is not the time to count the sacrifices. The future will show that they were justified and not too costly.”

With the successful conclusion of the negotiations for the creation of the Jewish Agency, declares the “Jewish Morning Journal” editorially, the ground has been prepared for the entrance of all classes of Jewry into the Agency. “The average non-Zionist has accepted the view of Mr. Marshall,” the paper says. “That view is: a historical experiment is being made to help the Jews establish themselves firmly in Palestine and it is the duty of every Jew to support or at least not to obstruct the work until it is made clear how far the enterprise can succeed. Now, the opponents of the Agency must adopt the same attitude. An experiment to attract the non-Zionists to the Palestine work is about to be made and success is, at any rate, not improble and not impossible. The men who participated in the conferences, and their representatives, who will enter the Agency are not anti-Zionist; the real opponents stand at a distance. Some of the non-Zionists are friendly enough to justify the assumption that they will help the 50% of Zionists in the new Agency to have a majority, assuming that the Zionists will be united.

“The strongest argument in favor of the enlarged Agency,” the paper continues, “is not the economic one, important as that is. Everyone who is familiar with the situation in Palestine knows that the Mandatory gives very little recognition to the present Agency, often acting in an unfriendly way and giving cause for serious complaints. A stronger Agency in which America will be well represented can have greater influence and better luck. This alone is sufficient to justify the wish that the organization of the Agency be carried through with all speed.”

The “Jewish Daily News”, analyzing the attitude of those who are not in favor of or are opposed to the Agency plan to include non-Zionists, lauds Weizmann’s statesmanship in pushing his work ahead to a successful outcome despite all obstacles. The paper adds: “The entrance of such figures as Judge Rosalsky into the Zionist work is a great gain for Palestine. Judge Rosalsky and the others who have come in with him represent a good element in American Jewry. They represent on the one hand, the practical Jews and on the other hand the well-to-do element. Zionism can gain a great deal from such a partnership, provided this partnership is actually established and maintained. Even a greater gain will come to Palestine, not only through the money but also from the possible new direction that will be given to the colonization and other phases of the reconstruction work, a direction which will tend more toward the middle class point of view than to the radical which has prevailed hitherto in the Palestine activities. We greet heartily the peace which has been established in American Jewry and the termination of the controversy between the Zionists and the J.D.C. leaders.”

Sidney Lansburgh was re-elected president of the Baltimore Associated Jewish Charities at the annual election.

Others elected were first vice-president, Emil Crockin; second vice-president, Walter Sondheim: treasurer, Jesse Benesch, and assistant treasurer, Adolph Ginsburg. Aaron Straus and Lester S. Levy were elected directors for four years and Morris A. Rome director for one year.

WELCOME LEADERSHIP OF ROSALSKY IN NEW YORK U.P.A

Satisfaction with the assumption of the chairmanship of the New York $2,500,000 United Palestine Appeal by Judge Otto A. Rosalsky, was expressed by leaders of the various campaign sections of Greater New York.

The headquarters of the Appeal announced yesterday that Judge Mitchell May, Justice of the Supreme Court and President of the Brooklyn Jewish Federation of Charities, has agreed to act as chairman of the general advisory committee of the United Palestine Appeal in Brooklyn.