Palestine Labor Movement Backed by 241 Reform Rabbis of Country

A statement endorsing the Palestine labor movement, signed by 241 Reform rabbis of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, was made public Friday by Rabbi Edward L. Israel of Baltimore, chairman of the committee under whose auspices the statement was revealed.

Members of the committee include Rabbis Philip S. Bernstein of Rochester, N. Y.; A. J. Feldman of Hartford, Conn.; Nelson Glueck of Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati; James G. Heller of Cincinnati; Morris S. Lazaron of Baltimore; Dr. Felix A. Levy of Chicago; Dr. Jacob R. Marcus of Hebrew Union College, and Dr. Abba Hillel Silver of Cleveland.

The statement follows:

VIEWS AS INDIVIDUALS

“We, the undersigned rabbis holding membership in the Central Conference of American Rabbis, but stating our views in this resolution as individuals, desire to express our agreement with the principles and ideals of the Palestine labor movement.

“We believe that the prophetic ideals espoused by Liberal Judaism are especially compatible with those of the labor movement in Eretz Israel. In the complex society of our day it may be more difficult to see its application, but the ancient maxim Zion bemishpat tipadeh, Zion can be redeemed only through justice, seems to us as profoundly true as of old.

“The purpose of this endorsement is not to place our stamp of approval upon every phase or aspect of the labor movement, but to express our agreement with its principles. Labor Palestine strives to build a cooperative rather than a competitive society in the land of our fathers. Its aim is to avoid erecting another social structure resting upon the sands of injustice and inequality. Its purpose is to appraise economic endeavor by the rule of service to the community rather than private profit. It seeks to secure a decent living standard for all workers.

“It underlines the importance of the welfare of the many rather than the luxury of the few. It stands upon the principle of the right of labor to bargain collectively. It opposes those who would destroy the very foundation of the Yishtub by using cheap labor and exploiting it, rather than paying a living wage to fellow Jews.

SEEKS WIDER ENTRY

“It is engaged in the effort to widen the entry into Palestine for labor, and to rehabilitate the middle class and direct it toward fundamentally productive channels of work. It is endeavoring to foster a communal consciousness and communal unity among the Jews of Palestine. And, finally, it is resisting the many who would make Jewish Palestine only another land for the exploitation of the weak, for the building up of a society based upon economic injustice.

“This program of the Histadruth in Palestine. and the League for Labor Palestine in America, seems to us to be as one with the essential principles of prophetic idealism. Many of its economic aims are part of the social justice program of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

“We conclude, therefore, with the declaration that, as we see it, Liberal Judaism, in addition to its general sympathy with the rehabilitation of Palestine as the Jewish homeland, should feel an especial enthusiasm for labor Palestine. We commend to our colleagues and to our followers hearty support for the Histadruth and the League for Labor Palestine.”

New York delegates to the National Labor Convention for Jewish Workers in Palestine, which met last month, will gather in a special session Sunday afternoon in the main ballroom of the Hotel Pennsylvania, it was announced Friday.

Prominent speakers representing various trade unions and labor organizations will greet the delegates and speak on the situation in Palestine, with emphasis placed on the work of the Histadruth.

In addition, various plans are expected to be proposed for raising $250,000, fixed as the quota of the National Labor Committee. Of this sum New York’s assessment is $100,000.

The noted German comedy-writer, Leopold Feldmann, was apprenticed to a shoemaker when this career was abruptly terminated by an unappreciated poem that he had glued to the sole of one of the shoes of a maiden of the neighborhood.