Sir:
I have noted with keenest interest the comments of Dr. Mordecai Kaplan, both in his “S. A. J. Review” and in your “Bulletin,” relative to the failure of the recent convention of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations to include in its agenda the subject of the Jewish Agency. Both Rabbi Newman and Rabbi Silverman have explanations for the omission, but their explanations do not go quite deep enough. Dr. Kaplan himself has touched upon the fundamental reason when he says:
“It is clearly the duty of the vanguard of Reform to bring the masses of their constituents up to the point at which they (the vanguard) have presumably arrived in respect to Palestine.”
The reluctance of both Rabbis and laymen to bring the question of the Agency up (I was there, and know something of the matter) can readily be understood when one measures the magnitude of the task before those in the “vanguard.” Even granting that every man in the American Reform Rabbinate has become covinced of the supreme importance of Palestine in the scheme of Jewish life, he must break down a solid wall of lethargy and prejudice built in America these decades past. He must lead his people to a complete reversal of their long-cherished and complacently nurtured antipathy to all that Palestine’s revival connotes. In other words, he must cause the entire liberal group in this country to do a complete right-about-face mentally. Optimistic and hopeful we may be, but we know so drastic an educational program must take many, many years…and the leaders hesitate.
I haven’t the slightest doubt of the utter sincerity of the Reform leaders who joined hands with the Zionists at the memorable nonpartisan conference. But these same men have as yet to translate their glowing words into a working program which shall reach every Temple in the United States.
Pronunciamentos and resolutions are valuable, and their omission is to be deplored, but an enormous amount of education must precede them. And of supreme importance at this moment is full acceptance on the part of the leaders for such a program of enlightenment.
Mrs. Abe Simon.
Chicago, April 8, 1929.
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.
