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Following the lead of American Jewry, the Jewish communities of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, whose government holds the Mandate over Palestine, intrusted to it by the League of Nations, decided to join the extended Jewish Agency for expanded and more effective work in the upbuilding of the country as the Jewish national home.
A decision to this effect, obliterating the differences between Zionists and non-Zionists in regard to the Palestine work, was unanimously arrived at Sunday at a special conference called under the auspices of the Board of Jewish Deputies, the official representative organization of English Jewry. The conference was called by the Board at the initiative of the World Zionist Organization which is now carrying out its policy in accordance with an agreement with the leaders of American non-Zionists to enlist the principal Jewish communities of the world in extension of the Palestine work.
Three resolutions adopted at the nation-wide conference, and approved at a huge mass meeting held at the Scala Theatre Sunday evening, placed British Jewry on record as agreeing to name its representatives on the Council of the Jewish Agency, created a special committee on Palestine as a part of the Board of Jewish Deputies, to which the Anglo-Jewish representatives on the Agency are to be responsible, and pledged the Jewish communities to a wider participation in the work.
The Marquis of Reading, Sir Herbert Samuel, former High Commissioner of Palestine, Lord Rothschild, Lord Melchett, the Chief Rabbi, Dr. J. H. Hertz, and other prominent leaders of British Jewry enthusiastically supported the move. The roll played by Louis Marshall, president of the American Jewish Committee, through his negotiations with Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, in bringing about the accord between Zionists and non-Zionists, was frequently referred to in the proceedings as one of great merit and achievement.
About 200 representatives from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland were present at the conference, which was presided over by O. E. d’Avigdor Goldsmid, president of the Board of Jewish Deputies.
Six delegates will be the representatives of British Jewry on the Council of the Jewish Agency. The decision was unanimous insofar as no vote to the contrary was cast. The only exception constituted the action of representatives of the Agudath Israel, Orthodox Jewish world organization, who abstained from voting. Rabbi Schoenfeld, who concurred in the res (Continued on Page 7)
What the League of Nations is for all nations in the realm of politics, the rebuilding of Palestine as the home of Judaism means for the Jews in the realm of religion, was the opinion expressed by Sir Waley Cohen, one of the principal speakers at the conference.
“It is foolish to ask, after cities have been established, colonies replaced malarious swamps, the Jordan harnessed and cheap power produced, whether this thing is going to be a success,” Lord Melchett exclaimed. “It is a success! Are you going to participate in the success?” he asked, “or are you going to allow other people to take up the benefit after you yourself made the success?”
The first resolution which was unanimously carried declares that “the conference of appointed representatives of the Jewish congregations and institutions in the British Isles would welcome the representation of the Anglo-Jewish community on the enlarged Jewish Agency and its participation in the discharge of the duties assigned to the Agency by the Mandate intrusted to His Majesty’s Government by the League of Nations.”
The resolution further pledges Anglo-Jewry to “do its utmost to support the government in giving effect to the Mandate and use its best endeavors to promote the Jewish work of reconstruction in Palestine.”
The second resolution, moved by Sir Matthew Nathan, Colonial administrator and former governor of Queensland, Australia, and seconded by Miss Nettie Adler, representing the Union of Jewish Women, declared that the conference “authorizes the Board of Jewish Deputies to appoint six persons to represent the Anglo-Jewish community on the Jewish Agency for a period which the Board shall determine.” The resolution was unanimously adopted.
The third resolution, moved by Lord Walter Rothschild, and carried unanimously, requested the Board of Jewish Deputies to set up a Palestine Committee, which shall include the Anglo-Jewish representatives on the Jewish Agency, to deal with Palestine matters. The proceedings of this Palestine Committee are to be submitted to the Board of Jewish Deputies. This resolution was seconded by Nathan Laski.
Mr. D’Avigdor Goldsmid, in welcoming the delegates, made an appeal for the sinking of minor differences so that a united Jewish front, making possible a united Jewish effort for Palestine, may be created.
“The Zionist Organization has loyally fulfilled the duties required of it in the Palestine Mandate, both as the acting Jewish Agency and as the instigator of the movement to enlarge the Jewish Agency,” he stated. “The Zionist Organization has addressed an invitation to the Jewish community of the United Staes to join the Agency. The American Jewish community, under the enlightened leadership of Louis Marshall, the great defender of Jewish rights, passed a resolution proving its readiness to bear a part of the responsibility. The essence of the problem facing this conference is: what is our duty as members of the Anglo-Jewish community and as British citizens?” he asked, stating in reply: “Letters of leaders of the community who are best qualified to judge because they have themselves administered territories under the Crown, show clearly what our duty should be,” he stated.
“Impartial persons cannot help but admire the zeal, the sacrifice and the devotion of the Zionists. It is therefore the duty of those who have so far looked on, now to take a hand in the Palestine work. The outstanding fact which many others have noticed while visiting Palestine is the feeling of Palestine Jews that they are in Palestine by right and not by sufferance, which makes all the difference in their attitudes in daily life. The work done in Palestine is very remarkable in itself. It has proved devotion and enthusiasm, but the report of the Joint Palestine Survey Commission shows what still remains to be done, which requires more money.
“There is no use shirking the facts,” he stated. “Palestine is an expensive country to develop. However, no territory which is being administered by the Crown has ever had so much enthusiasm, zeal or capital lavished on it. It is for that reason that we claim from the British government that the terms of the Mandate be loyally adhered to.”
Referring to the exercises at the opening of the Hebrew University four years ago, Mr. D’Avigdor Goldsmid stated that none can deny that the foundation and the development of the Hebrew University are proof of the highest form of idealism. “Our duty is to assist in the development of the country whose capital city will be a great center of knowledge and research and of influence throughout the world,” he said.
On the question of nationalism, the controversial point between the Zionists and the non-Zionists, the chairman stated that “the Zionist Organization. when it issued invitations to the non-Zionists to join the Jewish Agency. set up no conditions and raised no questions. Why should then British Jewry ask any questions? Should British Jewry lag behind where America has agreed? As an Englishman I feel that so long as the British government holds the Mandate over Palestine, British Jewry is bound in duty to (Continued on Page 8) (Continued from Page 7)
Sir Robert Waley Cohen, Managing Director of the Shell Transport and Trading Company and of the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company, vice-president of the United Synagogue, in his address before the conference stated that the upbuilding of Palestine was the expression of world Jewry. “Rebuilding a home for Judaism means for the Jews in the realm of religion what the League of Nations means for all nations in the realm of politics.
“We need not be alarmed that the religious life of the Jewish settlers in Palestine is not in accord with the conception of many people regarding Jewish traditions, because the settlers are intensely devoted to the ideal of upbuilding the Jewish home. The spiritual regeneration of Palestine will be accomplished if the country is materially regenerated, requiring that good government and the peaceful enjoyment of the necessities of life be secured,” he declared.
Seated on the platform were Sir Waley Cohen, Lord Rothschild, Chief Rabbi Dr. J. H. Hertz, Sir Matthew Nathan, Dr. Selig Brodetzky, chief of the political department of the Zionist Executive in London, Felix Rosen blueth, member of the Zionist Executive in London.
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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.
