The Maccabaean

The external phase of the Convention was strongly emphasized. Its effect upon Chicago Jewry was truly wonderful. As for the opportunity it offered for Zionist propaganda, it was almost unbounded. Weeks before the coming of the Convention its advent had been heralded. The ball, the banquet, the mass meeting had been awaited with great eagerness by many. To Mr. D. D. Pollock a great deal of the credit is due. He worked tirelessly, constantly arranging every detail of the program. All members of the executive, in fact all organized Zionists worked with might and main. The Yiddish and English Jewish papers gave columns to the agitation of Zionism. The arrival of Mr. Benjamin Perlstein, the administrative secretary of the provisional committee, added zest to the work. The coming of Mr. Brandeis and Dr. Levin found its way into all the papers, and the English dailies made it their business to interview the leaders of Zionism and to report their interviews. Thus Zionism literally became the talk of the town. The well-filled ball room on Saturday evening showed that the ball had been well advertised. The hundreds that were turned away from the mass meeting halls for lack of space testified to the widespread news of the convention. At the first official session held Sunday morning, Mr. Loeb, President of the Hebrew Institute, spoke emphatically on the part Zionists have taken in general Jewish activities, and especially of the active part they had taken in the building of the Hebrew Institute where the greater part of the Convention proceedings took place. Rabbi J. Levinson, who followed Mr. Loeb, drew a picture of Zionism, which he compared to a flowing river with many branches, one of which was the Misrachi, of which he was a representative. Dr. Sultan and others, who represented the fraternal organizations, greeted the Convention in the names of their societies, and assured those present of their desire to co-operate with Zionist endeavor. Mr. Brandeis gave an inspiring talk on the need of co-operation among Zionists, that brought all the delegates to their feet.

The height of enthusiasm was reached at the mass meeting, where as many could find their way into the hall found a.treat awaiting them that would furnish inspiration for many a day. The large hall of the Hebrew Institute Gymnasium was packed to the doors, as was also the small assembly hall, where an overflow meeting was held at the same time. In both the audience was keyed up to the highest pitch of enthusiasm and interest. They sat enthralled for hours, listening to accounts of Zionism, its aims and achievements. its hopes and aspirations. Appeals for immediate help for Palestine, and requests for additional membership met a warm response. Each speaker was greeted with applause that re-echoed through the halls out of the outer walls, where hundreds were clamoring for admission. Of great interest to the observer also, were the people who sat on the stage, or, rather the different elements they represented. Reform and orthodox rabbis rubbed shoulder to shoulder. Radicals and conservatives of Chicago Jewry found seats next to each other. One could not pick the Zionist from the non-Zionist; all differences seemed to have disappeared for the evening; it seemed as if all views were ready to diffuse into one, all elements into a single element—the Zionist element.

The banquet that followed the mass meeting Monday evening, filled out the financial gap left by the mass meeting. In former years an admission fee had been charged for the mass meeting; but this time,

in accordance with the wishes of Mr. Brandeis, admission to the mass meeting was free, and appeals for funds were made at the banquet.

After the meal was served Prof. Kallen gave a short talk on hyphenated Americanism and its relation to Zionism, and he was followed by Mr. Brandeis, who spoke on the Soul of American Jewry, closing with the words: "The Jew in America must sacrifice himself to save his soul and the soul of his people. But the Zionists must not only alleviate the misery, but must solve the Jewish problem."

Before starting his appeal for funds Judge Mack prefaced his plea with the words:

"A mass meeting to help Cuba, held at one time when that country was in a fight for existence, at the time of the revolution, ended in a unanimously carried motion to give three cheers for that poor, hungry, desolate and miserable country. It will take more than three cheers to help Palestine. The United States is the only nation to profit by the war whether it end to-morrow or a year from to-morrow. And our Jews are receiving their share of prosperity. Give for these war sufferers in Europe."

It was a stirring appeal that the Judge made, and one that did not fall on deaf ears. His judiciary logic was awarded and money flowed in, thick and fast, after the start was made. Nor was it a meagre beginning for which the Judge held out. He insisted on a $1,000 to set the ball arolling, and he was well repaid, for the first throw to its hat in the ring was the Yehudah Halevi Gate of Milwaukee, that promised to raise that sum. The other societies followed with smaller amounts, but with just as much eagerness, and soon the figures began to mount. But still the chairman was not satisfied. He had his eye on certain individuals and he did not stop until he made a total of $1,000 by sentencing four immediately to pay a fine of $250. The court expenses he left to the Chicago Zionists to collect. Before the evening was over fully $6,300 had been pledged and a great deal of it was collected on the spot.

There was another collection on Monday for a different purpose—for the support of the "Hatoren," the Hebrew monthly recently published with the aid of the provisional committee. The contributors became shareholders of the paper, and it is expected that about $1,000 will be collected from the Zionists to insure the continuation of the journal.

Tuesday evening marked another gala occasion. The Achoozah held a large meeting at which the speakers were Dr. Levin and Mr. Alexander Aronson of Palestine. a brother of Aaron Aronson. Dr. Levin again held his audience spellbound with his wondrous flow.of language, his marvel of style. Mr. Aronson gave a most graphic picture of the Palestine scenes, which he knows so well, and every eye followed him as he reviewed the situation in Palestine at the present time and compared it with the Palestine prior to the war.

The Junior Convention held on Sunday, made a fitting close to the convention. In a little playlet called "The Spirit of Israel," the viccissitudes of the Jewish nation were pictured in beautiful tableaux by the children. Prominent rabbis addressed the children, and the program closed with the ringing voices of 1,000 sons and daughters of Zion, attuned to the strain of the Hatikvah.

The success of the Nineteenth Annual Convention of the Knights of Zion was gratifying from both an internal and an external standpoint—to the intimate workers and to the public at large.