(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
The recent understanding reached between the Roumanian Minister at Washington and the United Roumanian Jews of America was a test for the Roumanian Government, declared Dr. Stephen S. Wise, President of the American Jewish Congress, in his address before the concluding session of the twenty-third annual convention of the Independent Order Brith Sholom at the Hotel Washington.
Speaking on the situation in Zionism, Dr. Wise declared, turning to Judge William M. Lewis of Philadelphia, National Chairman of the United Palestine Appeal, “Judge Lewis and I are Zionists. We shall work for Zion as long as we live. To be sure we will have something to say at the next annual convention in Pittsburgh, but when it is over we will still be working together for Palestine. There are serious differences of opinion, differences in judgment,” he said.
“Unless you are helping Eretz Israel,” he declared to the delegates, “it is none of your business. You have no part in this unless you are one of the builders. If every Jew did what he could and should the Pittsburgh convention would be like a Sunday School picnic.
“No matter what is said in Pittsburgh, Lewis and I are agreed Palestine must be rebuilt regardless of who leads. I wish to make it clear I have no personal ambitions. I want Palestine rebuilt honorably. I don’t want Eretz Israel to become an object of charity of the non-Zionists. Rather it must remain the heart’s desire of those of us who are Zionists. I belong not to Crimea but to Eretz Israel. Of course we must help all other efforts, but I do not want the rebuilding of the Jewish National Homeland degraded into another Zedaka (charity) campaign. Don’t give to Palestine as you do to your federation of charities. If you can’t give with your life, your hopes, your spirit, keep your money. Don’t degrade the immortal hope of the Jewish people.”
A vote of thanks to Rabbi Wise was proposed by Judge Lewis who declared he rose in his individual capacity as a delegate to the convention.
In his report on the activities of the order during the past year, Martin O. Levy, grand secretary, stated: “Of the 2,723 initiations, 1,987 were 35 years of age and under; 407 were between the ages of 36 and 40; 200 were between the ages of 41 and 45; 100 were between the ages of 46 and 50; and 29 were between the ages of 51 and 55 years. Seventy per cent of the members initiated during the past year were under 35 years and of that age.
Sol C. Kraus of Philadelphia was reelected Grand Master of the Order, A. Sigmond Kanengieser of Newark vice Grand Master; Martin O. Levy of Philadelphia, Grand Secretary and Jacob Edelstein of Philadelphia, Grand Treasurer. Judge William M. Lewis was elected Treasurer of Jewish activities.
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