Rev. Holmes Urges Moslems and Christians to Aid Jews in Rebuilding Palestine

The Christian and the Moslem communities of Palestine were urged to lend their best cooperation to the efforts of the Jewish people in the rebuilding of the Jewish people in the rebuilding of the Holy Land, by Rev. John Haynes Holmes, pastor of the New York Community Church, who was the guest of honor at a reception given to him Tuesday evening by the municipality of Tel Aviv, the first all-Jewish city in Palestine.

The reception was held at the Tel Aviv city hall in the presence of representative of all Christian churches in Palestine, the municipal of Jaffa and of numerous Jewish organizations. M. Dizengoff, Mayor of Tel Aviv, welcomed Rev. Holmes as a striking American personality and as a minister of God. It was natural, the Mayor declared, for Nathan Straus, the great American philanthropist who believes in the principle of King Solomon that the temple must be a place of worship for all peoples, to choose as his envoy Rev. Holmes, who devotes all of his time to preaching the brotherhood of man, of religions and races.

Rev. Holmes was also praised by Chaim Nachman Bialik, the leading poet of neo-Hebraic literature. Rev. Holmes in his recent sermon on Judaism before the Community Church displayed an understanding of Judaism which is greater than many Jews possess, Mr. Bialik stated. Nathan Straus’s munificence in charitable work is a symbol of Judaism. His activities are directed for the benefit not of one group but for mankind. His deeds are a living testimony to the best ideals.

“From certain points of view I as a Christian,” Rev. Holmes stated in his address, “should have stood far from the Zionist movement. Indeed, if the Jews had come to Palestine as crusaders, I would keep away. But the Jews came here not with the sword but with the plough. As Nathan Straus told me before my departure from New York, the Jewish people need the Holy Land to reach their spiritual goal.

“There were two periods in Israel’s history-of Kings and of Prophets. The first period was full of bloodshed, murder and tears, like the history of the kings of all the world. Now the Jewish people intend to restore not the period of the kings but of the prophets of history,” Dr. Holmes declared.

“All communities here should consider themselves happy as the possibility has been rendered them to work (Continued on Page 4)

“For generations mankind was busy with destruction. Now has come the time of peace and cooperation. It is high time to build one temple for the one superior God. If you here fail to solve this problem, we abroad will be unable to do anything. If you succeed, a powerful voice for brotherhood will come forth.

“Palestine, is a laboratory for mankind’s unity, Dr. Holmes continued. “What is achieved in this laboratory will be spread to all the world. I see already the commencement here. Hands begin to be drawn to one another as if led by angels. The Jews and the Arabs have a common goal and from the summits of all the mountains, the sun of a new era of one God should rise. Palestine must be the Holy Land not only for the past but also for the future through mutual love and cooperation.

“In your work today and in your future work you are blessed by all mankind,” he declared.

“My visit to Palestine is one of the most important moments of my life. I speak here not as the representative of the Community Church but as the envoy of Nathan Straus, the great man and the great spirit. I shall be happy to convey to Mr. Straus Tel Aviv’s greetings. While Nathan Staus is a citizen of all the world, he is a Hebrew of the Hebrews. Young blood flows in his viens. He regards Palestine as a symbol not only of the past but also of the future. Before leaving America I met Mr. Straus frequently. He endeavored to arouse in me a love for Palestine and Tel Aviv, but what I have found here exceeds enormously what I had imagined,” Rev. Holmes said.

A cablegram of greetings on behalf of the gathering was despatched to Nathan Straus in New York.