Judge Irving Lehman, Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, and chairman of the committee for the dinner to be given in honor of Louis Marshall and Dr. Chaim Weizmann, at the Hotel Biltmore, New York, next Tuesday evening, March 22, will also act as the presiding officer and toastmaster of the banquet.
Judge Lehman, as the spokesman of the Tribute Committee of fifty-five, which includes both Zionists and non-Zionists, will introduce the two honor guests, who will be the sole speakers of the evening. Several hundred men and women, constituting a wide representation of Jewish interests in many cities throughout the country, will be present.
In commenting on the forthcoming event Judge Lehman stated:
“With tireless activity and energy, born of deep love of country, of poignant sympathy for the oppressed, and of abiding faith in the universal and immutable truth and value of the ancient ideals of Judaism, Louis Marshall has for years labored by day and by night in every cause by which the Jews of America could make real contribution to the advancement of their country, spiritually or materially; could preserve their ancient heritage here to be a blessing to themselves and future generations, and could help their brethren suffering under adversity and oppression in other lands. Upon his seventieth birthday all those who had worked with him recognized wholeheartedly that in such work he has been and is the leader whom they will gladly follow. He has shared the aspirations of his fellow-Jews, he has led them wisely and well towards the realization of these aspirations.
“Though Mr. Marshall has not been a member of the Zionist organization, yet he has shared in that love which the Jews since the dispersal have given to Palestine, the homeland of their fathers, the country from which came those spiritual truth which have been the great contribution of the Jews to the light of the world. We Jews who cannot even imagine any home or country except America, whose devotion to America is whole-souled and entire, yet know and appreciate the longing of the Jews who have no home or country they may call their own, to return to the country of their fathers. To build up that country so that as many Jews as possible may find there a home and opportunity to live their own lives, to build up again their own culture, to practice freely their own religion, without interference with or by the other inhabitants of the country, is a noble task.
“For that task there should be earnest cooperation among all who are willing to share in it, just as there should be cooperation in all sound civic, social, religious and philanthropic work here and in relief work among those who need our help in other countries. Divisions between us, which to many seem unnecessary, and which we all know are harmful, have until now impeded such cooperation. Time and effort which should have been given to great causes have sometimes been lost in strife. Those who were worthy of being leaders in Jewry have always deplored these divisions and have been eager to end them.
“They have been ended, I hope for ever. A few months ago Dr. Chaim Weizmann, leader of the World Zionist Organization, came here and urged that with full understanding of the importance of all the work which Jews here should do not only for Palestine but for their fellow-citizens and fellow-Jews in this country and for their oppressed and perishing brethren in other countries, there must come full and honest cooperation, so that such work should be worthily performed. Both Dr. Weizmann and Mr. Marshall have vindicated their title to real leadership by coming to an agreement which all those who acknowledge their leadership will heartily and sincerely ratify, so that harmony resulting in effective work in all directions, may take the place of dissension.
“All who come to that dinner should come there to show that they sincerely ratify the agreement of these leaders. It should be the occasion of honest resolve by the Jews of America henceforth to work together for the advancement of all work which we in the land of freedom and opportunity can and should do. Sharing to the fullest extent the aspirations and ideals of our fellow-citizens here, eager to perform in fullest and finest manner our duties as citizens, we also share, as we have always done, the aspirations and ideals of our fellow-Jews elsewhere, and we should be eager to perform in fullest and finest way our duties as Jews working together to make all these aspirations and ideals firm realities,” Judge Lehman declared.
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