World Peace Will Come Only when Zion is Rebuilt, Says Sokolow

The Jewish Agency is a symbol of Jewish peace and world peace will come only when Zion is rebuilt, declared Nahum Sokolow, chairman of the World Zionist Executive, calling upon the Jews of America to fulfill the responsibilities of its leadership to which the entire world looks for the realization of the Zionist ideal. That the non-Jewish world is thoroughly sensitive to the inspiring influence of a rebuilt Palestine was the opinion expressed by Dr. Sokolow, who was the guest of honor at a reception tendered him by the Zionist Organization of America and the United Palestine Appeal at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Sunday night.

The reception combined a welcome to Dr. Sokolow with a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the day when the Versailles Peace Conference received the Jewish delegation, including Dr. Sokolow, Chaim Weizmann and M. M. Ussishkin, who successfully urged the justice of the Jewish claim to Palestine.

A large audience was present to hear Dr. Soklow in his first public address since arriving in this country to participate in the United Palestine Appeal. Louis Lipsky. President of the Zionist Organization of America; Judge William M. Lewis, National Chairman of the United Palestine Appeal; Gedaliah Bublick, President of the Mizrachi Organization; Mrs. Robert Szold. Acting President of Hadassah and Abraham Goldberg member of the Administrative Committee of the Z.O.A., greeted Dr. Sokolow in behalf of their organizations.

Congratulating the Jews of America for their endorsement of the Jewish Agency. Dr. Sokolow declared. “My message today is the same message which I presented ten years ago on the 27th of February. 1918, in the name of the Jewish people to the Peace Conference in Paris: World Peace will come when Zion will be rebuilt. This is not only a Near East or Palestinian or a Jewish proposition. It is a proposition on which the victory of justice and humanity depends.

“The experience of the last ten years has confirmed the truth of this message. Now we have peace but it is not the peace whose hope sustained us through the dark days of the War.

“The Peace Conference was not finished in 1918; it is still going on. It is called Geneva, Locarno. Kellogg Pact. All these names mark great milestones. But the last goal and the true name is Zion. Out of Palestine a fresh spiritual life will develop to remodel the conscience of humanity. In Palestine we have a glorious mission for the whole world.

“Zionism is not a colonization scheme alone. It is a Revival. Our people over had the historic role of intermediaries for the great international ideals of morality, science, law and (Continued on Page 4)

“We must therefore have, first of all peace in our own home, ‘Jewish peace.’ I consider the Jewish Agency as a symbol of Jewish peace, and I congratulate you, American Jews, on this wonderful beginning.

“American Jewry first; the others will follow! The bulk of the Jewish people are with us. There still are some ‘antis’ chasing shadows and missing the substance. With what deep bitterness does one see that at a time when the attention of the whole civilized world is focussed on Palestine, when from the lips of the greatest leaders of nations and of great political parties all over the world noble words of respect, attention and enthusiastic approval for our national ideal, for our efforts and sacrifices in connection with the rebuilding of the Jewish National Home are pronounced, there should be Jews ready to compromise all this and show us up as incorrigible grumblers and malcontents.

“Mankind and Jewry are looking to you, Jews of America, with appreciation and hope confident that you will do great and greater things for the realization of our glorious, human and Jewish ideal!”