Praise for outcome of the Non-Zionist Conference on Palestine is expressed by Rabbis in reply to an inquiry initiated by the Jewish Daily Bulletin.
RABBI MAURICE H. HARRIS, Temple Israel, New York City–“Just as soon as the invitation reached me to attend a meeting in which a modus vivendi was to be brought about between Zionists and non-Zionists in the upbuilding of Palestine, I felt that a historic achievement was imminent.
“The outcome of that notable meeting justified the expectation.
“In the early days of the Zionist movement, at the end of the 19th century, the Jews fell into two groups–Zionists and anti-Zionist. Feeling ran high. In the process of years, the Zionist movement took on a somewhat different aspect and won the adherence of many who had opposed it, by becoming a cultural as well as a nationalist concept. As acrimony died down, the anti-Zionist disappeared and the non-Zionist took his place. Many now came to appreciate the achievement of Zionism in deepening Jewish consciousness where they were not prepared to espouse its theory of a Jewish nation.
“Now, at last, Zionists and non-Zionists are joining hands and planning to work together in the upbuilding of Palestine and for aiding in every way those now settling there. The hatchet is buried. It is now realized that all Israel throughout the world can and should aid in the rehabilitating of the land of our fathers.”
HARRY H. LAPIDUS, Omaha, Neb.–“I am thoroughly convinced that the Non-Zionist Confernce and the Jewish Agency will prove of tremendous value to the Jews of the world.”
RABBI SAMUEL J. LEVINSON, Temple Beth Emth of Flatbush, Brooklyn, N. Y.–“I have read the proceedings of the Non-Zionist Conference with both care and interest and can arrive at no other concluusion than this, that the result of the proceedings must be what is hoped for–a unification of American Jewry in the task of Palestinian reconstruction. I believe the Confernce to have been an epoch making event in American Jewish life.”
RABBI EDGAR F. MAGNIN, Los Angeles, Cal.–“The Non-Zionist Conference held under the chairmanship of Louis Marshall, and which was attended by some of the most outstanding Jews of America, including both Zionists and non-Zionists, represents a tremendous step forward not only in the development of Palestine, but in Jewish American life. Its significance may be viewed from several angles. To begin with, it is a triumph for Palestine. Palestinian development is not a matter of theory any longer. It is more than a philosophy–it is an actual fact. It has been begun and furthered and we dare not fail to support it now. The reputation of our entire people is at stake. We cannot afford to be known as quitters; nor is there are necessity that we should be.
“Almost as important, if not of equ significance, is the fact that the Jew of all groups have at last united formally and overtly in the furtherance this great plan. It is a lesson to faworld, and what is just as important to ourselves, that Jews can unite when the interests of their people are a stake. One of the most tragic situations we have to confront as Jews a our lack of solidarity. We are a minority people and misunderstood by the entire world and we have not had sense enough and courage enough to try to understand ourselves or to face the world united. Mr. Marshall and his group are to be congratulated on their bigness of mind and vision; also for their loyalty to their people. The Zionist group is to be congratulated for its reasonableness and diplomacy Common sense business methods, combined with the fine ideal, can alone insure success for Palestine.
“At this time, when we are celebrating the Eleventh Anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, nothing more encouraging could have occurred. It will go down in Jewish history as an important event.”
RABBI LOUIS A. MISCHKIND, Congregation Beth Emeth, Wilmington, Del.–“Among the more encourageing angles that were flashed at the Conference held in the Biltomore are two highly important ones. The first marks the realization that Palestinian reconstruction is a Jewish job, and as such demands the unity of Israel for its accomplishment. From this flows directly another thought: that the non-Zionist rapprochement, and the inevitable Zionist counter-move in the same direction, may be the actual beginning of a more organized Jewish community in America. Certainly, with respect of fund-raising for communal institutions of national scope, that seems not only desirable but, with the mergence of the two groups, at last feasible.”
YIDDISH TALKIES TO BE PRODUCED HERE
The Vocafilm Corporation of America has closed a thirteen year contract with the Maurice Schwartz Yiddish Talking Pictures Corporation for the making of Yiddish talkies.
“Jews everywhere will be able to see and hear Maurice Schwartz and his famous Yiddish Art Theatre Company in talking pictures,” David Hochreich, president of the Vocafilm, stated.
Maurice Schwartz’s Yiddish Talking Pictures Corporation will make a minimum of six plays each year over the Vocafilm synchronization system, it is planned. Each will be a 100% Talker adapted from the Yiddish Art Theatre’s repertory of stage successes, and to be produced at the Yiddish Art Theatre. In three plays a year, Maurice Schwartz will be starred. All will be supervised by him.
These productions will be played all over the world in Yiddish. The name of the first Vocafilm production to be made by the Maurice Schwartz Yiddish Talking Pictures Corporation will be announced within the next few days.
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