Exuding confidence and enthusiasm over the prospects of American Jewry, Joseph Sprinzak, one of the two delegates of the Histadruth sent here eight months ago to tour the country and spread Histadruth ideology and who departed for Palestine Saturday morning aboard the liner Rex, declared that he was greatly enamoured with possibilities of American Jewry in connection with the upbuilding of Palestine, in an interview with the Jewish Daily Bulletin Friday afternoon at the Poale Zion offices.
Sprinzak, who has recently completed a tour of this country and Canada in which he lectured in thirty-seven cities, said: “I am taking home the impression that American Jewry, under present conditions, is one of the ablest sections of Jewish life.
“Despite financial conditions of the past two years, American Jewry will fulfill a great role in the upbuilding of Palestine and in the defense of Jewish interests even outside of America,” he said. “My impression is that American Jews are well organized in several ways. This being organized can be a great power for common interests of world Jewry.”
Sprinzak is a short man inclined to stockiness, with a large forehead underneath a nice crop of black hair. His grayish eyes are continually darting from side to side and are often twinkling amusedly. Mainly because of his efforts and those of Goldie Meyerson, the other Histadruth delegate, this year’s campaign for funds showed an increase of forty per cent over that of last year.
Questioned about the attitude of Jews here toward Palestine, Sprinzak declared: “I found a tremendous feeling for Palestine among all sections of American Jewry. After the Zionist convention at Atlantic City, it is the duty of the Zionist Organization of America to utilize this opportunity.”
Still commenting on the Atlantic City convention, he said that “it excelled in one important detail. The convention outlined the road for a progressive Zionism which has to understand the needs of the youth in the great work that is being done by labor in Palestine.”
“It is my opinion that the organizational weakness of the Zionist Organization of America is unjustified. There are here men and means which can be utilized by proper methods. I know of course, that there are some defects in American Jewish life, but I am interested in the hopeful signs that I have seen among Jews here.”
He struck a hopeful and optimistic note when he declared that “this year is a prelude for the increased activity of next year which will be supported by a larger Histadruth delegation from Palestine.”
The present delegation consists of only two persons, but because of the success of this year’s campaign a larger contingent will be sent next year. Sprinzak does not know whether he will be sent here or to Poland next year but he intimated that he hopes he is sent to America.
Sprinzak, together with Goldie Myerson and Al Galili, Hechalutz delegate to America, was feted at a farewell party at the Hotel Pennsylvania Friday evening. All members of the Poale Zion-Ziere Zion party were present. The delegates discussed the future tasks of the Zionist-Socialist movement in this country.
JEW ACTED WITH BOOTH
Lewis Morrison, Jewish American actor, played supporting roles to Edwin Forrest, Edwin Booth, and Charlotte Cushman, during the last four decades of the nineteenth century.
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