each for the Yiddish Press Fund before October 1, 1908.
And, in the belief that the completion of our fund is near at hand, we further recommend that the proposed Yiddish weekly shall begin to appear in January, 1909, provided, of course, that the further receipts for the fund will come in early enough to permit the necessary preparations to be completed by that time.
And we appeal to you, fellow delegates, and through you to all our societies, to continue energetically the work for the fund in the firm belief that you are helping to create a medium which will bring more light and enthusiasm in our ranks, which will continually increase the number of our workers, and will make our Zionist activities less difficult and more successful. Let us not till our soil in a primitive way, but, like intelligent men, let us first create the necessary implements. The results of our labors will then be tenfold and even hundredfold.
With Zion’s greetings,
Respectfully submitted,
JUNIOR ORGANIZATION SÜB-COMMITTEE.
At this convention, being the first at which a report on junior activity is presented, it would be appropriate to review the history of junior organizations. Yet, for the obvious reasons that there is little or nothing to review, and that plans of future policy are of more significance, I shall merely recount the events of the past year.
Yet I cannot permit this occasion to pass without mentioning the neglect of junior organization during the past ten years. A movement that proposes the rejuvenation of the Jewish soul is particularly expected to give its first and earliest attention to the instruction of the young. Yet, in the past, the only attempts have begun in the formulation of resolutions, and have ended with their passage. Not only has there not been a concerted effort toward organizing the young, but various appeals for such work have been ignored.
These facts are mentioned but to emphasize the need of a change in policy. This end cannot be accomplished by mere encouragement or silent approval. It demands a concerted and extended effort by the Federation, fully conscious that the spread of education on a nationalistic basis must be the dominant note of its propaganda.
When our devoted leader, Dr. Herzl, prophesied that a return to Zion must be preceded by a return to Judaism, he had particularly in mind the evil consequences of assimilation, which in its last analysis is deficiency in Jewish learning. That this weed is springing up particularly among the masses of our children is daily becoming more noticeable. A general statement of the prevailing ignorance among our children, of subjects Jewish, is not contemplated, yet the slightest study in the heart of the greatest Jewish settlement will immediately convince one of the need of remedial measures. Yet, attempts in this direction have in the main been undertaken under assimilative auspices. I know of no agency more fitted to undertake this work with nationalistic influences than our Federation. We hold the spread of Judaism to be one of the fundamental aims of our organization. Our obligations to the cause must extend beyond the boundaries of Zion, though inspired by it. We have yet to realize in practice our duty in spreading Jewish culture. Can we find anywhere the need of such endeavor more urgent; can we find a field more responsive, more certain of an early harvest than among the young Jewry of tomorrow?
The few and recent attempts made among juniors have conclusively shown the response that may be anticipated. Our youth take to Zionism and nationalistic influences with a fervor and fidelity that has no parallel among senior organizations. Even today you will find many leaders of our movement, who ten years ago were being trained in junior ranks. These organizations have in the past grown up spontaneously, largely without the assistance of seniors.
I could not better succeed in arousing your sympathy for this work than by quoting from letters received from juniors, begging that a