News Brief

The statement referred to in the denial of Rabbi Kook was published by the English branch of the Agudath Israel, in a communication to the Jewish press in England.

The communication explained the attitude of the Agudah toward the criticism levelled against it at the recent conference of the English Zionist Federation, as a result of which a resolution was adopted in which the conference placed on record “its strong disapproval of the action taken by the Agudath Israel against the unity of the Jewish people in relation to Palestine.”

“For some ten years,” the communication states, “the Agudah has done all in its power to achieve reconciliation and cooperation with the Zionist Organization. Sir Herbert Samuel himself in 1924 asked the Zionist Organization to meet the Agudah in conference, without result.

“With regard to the Jewish Agency, Mr. Jacob Rosenheim, chairman of the Agudah Political Executive stated that ‘the participation of the Agudath Israel in the Jewish Agency was impossible, because the Keren Hayesod appeared to be indissolubly bound up with it, and the Keren Hayesod, because of its support of radical, irreligious institutions could not be supported by traditional orthodox Jews.’ Rabbi Kook had himself authorized the statement that ‘he could never urge orthodox Jews to support the Keren Hayesod.’

“This is the principle which has always guided the Agudah: in cultural and spiritual matters unity can only be achived on the basis of the Torah. Let Zionism free itself of its negative cultural program, and it can in reality become a movement of the whole Jewish people.

“Specific mention was made of the Religious Communities Ordinance, and of ‘the opposition of the Agudah to the unity of Jewish communal organization in Palestine.’ To our definite knowledge neither the Agudath Israel nor the Ashkenazi Town Council of Jerusalem has ever raised any objection to the systematic organization of the Palestine Jewish Communities. At the conference held between the Zionists and the Agudah in London last year, detailed and moderate proposals were made by our organization for the establishment of a united Jewish representation in Palestine. It is a pity that the English Zionist Federation Conference was not informed that these proposals had never even received a reply.

“It must be remembered that 7,000 family heads (representing some 35,000 Jewish souls) petitioned the Palestine Government in support of the Agudah claims, and for that reason more than half of the eligible electorate deliberately abstained from the last Vaad Leumi elections. It would not therefore appear that the orthodox Jewish elements in Palestine are so microscopic,” the statement declared.