Participation in Agency Gives U.S. Jewry World Leadership, Sokolow Says

Arriving Wednesday on the steamer Aquitania, just ten years after he, together with Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, and M. M. Ussischkin, president of the Jewish National Fund, appeared in a delegation before the Peace Conference at Versailles suc-successfully to plead the claim of the Jewish people to Palestine, Nahum Sokolow, chairman of the World Zionist Executive, declared that the most important development in Jewish history in the past decade has been the success of Zionism.

Mr. Sokolow, who is known as the historian of the Zionist movement, pointed to the growing strength of the Zionist organization, and to the achievements in Palestine during the last ten years. Referring to the Jewish Agency, Mr. Sokolow said that by its action in being the first to endorse this idea, American Jewry had taken the leadership in world Jewish affairs.

“Hertofore, American Jewry has furnished the money for various Jewish enterprises abroad. But now the Jews of America have definitely established themselves in a position of leadership for world Jewry, by their action in being the first to sponsor the idea of joint action by Zionists and non-Zionists in the rebuilding of Palestine. Great credit is due to Mr. Louis Marshall and his associates for the part they have played in enlisting the interest of the non-Zionists for the most important enterprise that has engaged (Continued on Page 4)

the attention of the Jewish people for centuries.

“The Jews of other countries look forward to the United States now for an incentive for greater achievements in every field of Jewish endeavor. By establishing harmony within their ranks, American Jews have created a precedent which is bound to have a tremendously helpful effect on Jewish life and civilization everywhere, and particularly in Palestine.

“In the ten years that have elapsed since the governments assembled at the Peace Conference at Versailles granted to the Jewish people their ambition to rebuild Palestine as the Jewish National Homeland, Jewish history has been swiftly written. Jewish hopes for a revived civilization have soared high; great progress has been made in creating a new Jewish culture. There can be no doobt that Jewish life has undergone a transformation, which has been solely due to the growth of the Zionist ideal. The success of the Palestine idea has found its climax here in America, with the acceptance of the Jewish Agency plan.”

Declaring that world Jewry now had its best opportunity for promoting the work in Palestine, Mr. Sokolow said:

“At this time, when a new epoch is opening for Zionism, when wider achievements seem possible under the new High Commissioner, and now that Jewry is united through the Jewish Agency, it seems reasonable to ask, ‘if not now, when?’ If Jewry should hesitate to give its fullest cooperation at this time, it is losing the most precious chance it has had to accelerate the progress of the rebuilding of Palestine.”

Mr. Sokolow declared that the negotiations for the formation of the Jewish Agency in the various other countries outside of America are progressing very satisfactorily. He declared that in Poland, and even in Germany, a Committee of the Jewish Agency would be formed within the near future. He admitted that progress was somewhat slow in several countries, but that successful results were looked for.

Mr. Sokolow, who has come to this country with his daughter, Dr. Celina Sokolow, was met at the boat by a committee of Zionists, including Mr. Morris Rothenberg, chairman of the board of directors of the United Palestine Appeal. Mr. and Mrs. Leopold Pilichowski, and Mr. Alex Rothenberg.

A campaign in the Border Cities for $150,000 with which to construct and equip a new synagogue and Jewish community centre in Windsor, Ontario, is under way. Rabbi Israel Lebendiger of Congregation Hashomayim, is directing the campaign. The amount of $90,000 has already been subscribed.

Bishop Manning forwarded a contribution to the Israel Orphan Asylum, New York, together with a letter praising the work of the institution, it was announced by Judge Gustave Hartman, founder and president of the asylum. The contribution. Judge Hartman said, was in connection with the forthcoming annual benefit show of the asylum to be held at Madison Square Garden March 23.