Jne Launches Drive to Buy 2,000,000 Dunams in Palestine to Honor Martyred Jews

Plans were being drawn up today for a drive to raise sufficient funds to purchase 2,000,000 dunams of land in Palestine, in memory of the 2,000,000 European Jews who have been slaughtered by the Nazis. A decision to launch such a drive was adopted yesterday at the Jewish National Fund’s “Land for Victory” Conference here, following a stirring appeal by Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver-of Cleveland.

Dr. Silver demanded that the democracies make clear now what action they plan to take to solve the Jewish problem, declaring that “it will be too late after the war.” He called for the redemption of the 2,000,000 dunams in Palestine as an answer to the Nazi murder of 2,000,000 Jews. At the same time he scored the anti-Zionists in America for their opposition to Jewish nationalism. Similar attacks on the groups opposing Zionist aspirations in Palestine were made by judge Louis E. Levinthal, president of the Zionist Organization of America, in a message sent to the conference and by Dr. Israel Goldstein. A Resolution condemning the “protest rabbis” was adopted unanimously by the conference. Following a memorial meeting for the martyred Jews in Nazi-held countries, the conference voted to establish a colony in Palestine called “The Jewish People Lives.” It was also decided to found a colony “Nachlath Israel Goldstein,” in honor of Dr. Goldstein’s tenth anniversary as head of the JNF in America. Continuation of traditional collection methods despite any pooling arrangements on a national scale was also voted.

A banquet honoring Dr. Goldstein concluded the conference last night. Among the speakers were Senator Alben Barkley, majority leader of the Senate, Senator Homer Ferguson of Michigan, Dr. Nahum Goldmann and others. Senator Barkley assured the diners that Jews will be given a homeland in Palestine after the war and told them that “the more land you buy through the JNF, the stronger will be your voice at the peace conference.”