tival combined the features of a religious ceremony, musical pageant and convention.
Morris Margolies, secretary of the Zionist Organization of America, was in charge of the general arrangements.
The outstanding feature of the presentation was “Reunion in Tel Aviv”, a series of dances and pantomime which depicted the various issues in Jewish thought. The movement to rehabilitate Palestine, the exodus from Hitlerite Germany, the spirit of the young pioneers who immigrated to the Holy Land, where they have devoted their lives to agriculture and construction, the vexing question of the Diaspora, the imposing hardships facing the Jews in many nations where anti-Semitism is rampant, the great Chassidic movement in Europe and America— these were represented in an artful theatrical set-up which apparently brought the great audience from speechless amazement to uncontrolled applause.
A cast of about 500 dancers and a 200-voiced chorus, directed by Isaac Van Grove and Lasar Galpern, internationally known ballet master, took part.
Many of the songs were written for the occasion. Emil Hilb, former conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra, and Eugene Fuerst, conductor of Russian symphonic orchestral work; Hammond Kroll, noted New York designer, and Mark S. Joffe, historical painter, did most of the stage lay-out and arranged the program.
An impressive list of notables, including outstanding leaders in lay and religious affairs, Jews and Gentiles alike, attended the festival. The committee of sponsors included the Rev. Dr. John Haynes Holmes, Herman Bernstein, former U. S. Minister to Albania; Edward P. Mulrooney, chairman of the State Alcoholic Board; Congressman Sol Bloom, Congressman Emanuel Celler, Bernard Deutsch, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, Louis Lipsky, Dr. Samuel Margoshes, Morris Rothenberg, Professor Mordecai M. Kaplan, Herman L. Glucksman and Maurice Deiches.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
