Palestine Jews Gather Strength to Go Forward Once More, Says Col. Kisch

“Traveling through the country one has a feeling that Palestine Jews are standing with their back to the wall, while gathering strength to go forward once more,” declared Col. Frederick H. Kisch, member of the Executive of the Jewish Agency, in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency representative here. “The wall is founded on confidence in our cause and built up with the support forthcoming from throughout the world.

“Even to one who went through the war as a combatant officer, the house at Hebron, where A. D. Slonim and his wife were murdered, with 19 students of the Yeshiva, is an appalling sight. It is perfectly clear that at Hebron, Safed, Motza, Jerusalem and everywhere that rioting occurred, the Arabs taking part behaved like savages untouched by the hand of civilization. It has been repeatedly brought home to me that many of them really believed the stories maliciously circulated about the Jews attacking the mosques. I put the greatest share of responsibility upon those responsible for circulating the stories and on the authorities for allowing them to be circulated without an official denial until after the disaster they provoked.

“Immediately after the first blow had fallen upon the Yishub. Palestine Jews, within their own limited resources, provided the first needs for relief, splendidly helped by the Hadassah. Followed generous help from America and elsewhere. We all greatly appreciate the fact that the initiative was taken by the American Zionists, who called on David A. Brown to head the Palestine Emergency Fund, and in England, where the president of the Jewish Board of Deputies, O. E. D’Avigdor Goldsmid, and Simon Marks cooperated with the Zionists without waiting for an appeal from Jerusalem.

“The High Commission from the first took a strong line in regard to the duties of the government in meeting the relief needs, but there was an inevitable delay before the necessary sanction was obtained. In the meantime, our relief organization got working, mainly helping with money which came from abroad. The government is now feeding the refugees, but there is remaining a great variety of relief needs, involving calls upon our funds, since foodstuffs alone cannot enable the victims to recuperate. We are anxious to avoid anything resembling pauperization, and plans are being made in order to set them on their feet again for useful and constructive lives, with such happiness as the sympathetic handling of their distress can give.” Col. Kisch declared.

“There is a special problem regarding the orphans and cases such as that of Rabbi Slonim who, completely broken by the murder of his son, is (Continued on Page 4)

left with a dependent family of five, will have to be treated in a more personal manner.

“The Executive entrusted Rabbi Meyer Berlin with the task of conducting the relief and reconstruction work in cooperation with the Vaad Leumi and special committees under the general direction of the Executive.

“Submission of claims for compensation is proceeding with legal assistance organized by the Executive. The government attitude is sympathetic and helpful.

“All are anxious to see the Hebron Yeshiva restored to life and work with the least possible delay,” he continued. “The first steps toward this restoration have already been taken. We are trying as much as we can to get back to normal conditions of life. It is important that the regular Zionist work, such as colonization, shall proceed and the development of projects independent of the recent destruction shall also go ahead.

“It is gratifying that within the last fortnight about 250 immigrants entered the country, and 930 are due in the next few weeks on the present schedule. In addition, the reconstruction needs and new opportunities for Jewish labor in the colonies and public works will enable us to submit a fresh labor schedule now under urgent preparation. Although the final distribution of the Executive portfolios awaits the return of all members of the Palestine Executive, immediate problems concerning the relations of the Yishub and immigration are being handled by Joseph Sprinzak.”

Col. Kisch concluded with a request to convey the thanks of the Executive and Palestine Jewry “to all who helped and are continuing to help us recover from the blow which was meant to crush us, but, although it took many lives and maimed many bodies, it left the spirit of Jewish Palestine unshaken,’ ‘he declared.