Nowhere has this difference of attitude presented itself more sharply than in the problems growing out of the war or accentuated by it. Let us assure those who differ from us that it was not a desire to oppose, nor a perverse intent #o disagree, that led the Zionists of this country,as well as those of all other countries where the questions could be freely discussed, to join in the Congress movement. The Zionist view of Jewish life made any other action impossible. The Jewish people, not Jewish citizens of this or that land, but the Jewish people, represented by Jews from any or all lands, must make its highest effort to secure for itself the Justice and the rights of which it has so long been deprived. The Jewish People do not exist according to the views of some. How is it possible for them and for us to view their problem alike, how is it possible for them and for us to ac- <ept the same solution? How can those who regard it as treasonable to speak of the Jewish People as a nation join with us in the demand for national rights in those lands where the various other nationalities enjoy such rights? When the Congress idea arose before American Jewry and the Federation and the Provisional Committee saw that it was in harmony with the methods and aims of Zionism, our organization joined in the movement. While this does not require.that every Zionist shall share these views or participate in this activity, the action of the organization binds the members to refrain from further opposition. I have used but one example to show the difference of attitude between Zionists and others. I might take up every phase of Jewish life and Jewish activity and point out to you the definite lines into which the Zionist attitude leads. I might point to Jewish education, Jewish charity, Jewish religious life. The same clear outlook, the same definite point of view lead us to action differing from that of other Jews. For in all phases of Jewish life, individual, communal and national, Zionism presents an aim distant perhaps but none the less clearly seen toward which we can direct our energies, a purpose worth striving for, an end full of hope and recompense and joy.
I have dwelt on the Zionist outlook because I wish to emphasize the necessity of a better understanding of Zionism, for a deeper realization of its scope. We have among us the greatest Jewish scholars of this land, historians and philosophers, scholars learned in every field, of Jewish Literature. It is from them that we must secure those works on Zionism, which, as I stated before, shall furnish all the material for a thorough and profound study. The Federation must direct itself earnestly to this question;—I feel sure that we have the men who could supply us with an Encyclopedia of Zionism.
We have extended our numbers, we have spread Zionism through the great masses of our People. The time has now <ome for us to intensify it, to enable non-Zionists to understand, to remove the misconception and the errors, and what is still more important, to make it possible for Zionists to understand Zionism in all its phases, to fit them for the highest service they can render to our people, to instill into them that great ideal, which puts purpose and completeness into their life, gives joy to their service and holds out hope for their future. We have broadened Zionism, the time has xzome to deeven it!
The Chairman: (Dr. Friedenwald): I shall recognize Dr. Pool to read a memorial list of the Zionists who have passed away during the year.
MEMORIAL LIST.
Dr. Pool said: We make mention of Dr. Hugo Zuckerman, a lawyer and poet of Vienna, in his youth a leader of student Zionists through the Kadimah, later a leader of Zionism in Western Austria, who brought many sacrifices to our cause and who all too soon fell on the battlefield.
Dr. Moskowitz of Roumania, for a time a servant to our cause as a member of the Actions Comite, who gave up comfort and ease to become a pioneer settler in Palestine, where he gave loving and wise service to his people as a physician and a friend in Rechoboth, and who in the end met his death while serving the people whom he loved and by whom he was loved in the land he loved.
Dr. Solomon Schechter, president of the Jewish Theologi- <al Seminary of America, profound scholar and brilliant essayist, who contributed to the elucidation of Zionist thought, and who ever set in the forefront of Zionism its spiritual appeal as an expression of hallowed Jewish tradition and who aided in the development of the Zionist organization in America. especially throuerh the influence of his thought
upon the rabbi-graduates of the institution of learning over which he presided.
E. P. Schinsky, of New York, who during the early days of Zionism in America, gave unstintingly of his time and thought to the work of interesting the Jews of America in the upbuilding of the Jewish Colonial Trust, of which he was a faithful servant.
Max Kolinsky of Cleveland, a zealous and loyal Zionist, ever ready to make sacrifices for the cause, an ever-helpful delegate to our annual conventions, and a steady and persistent worker in the Jewish community of the city where he resided.
Samuel Goldstein of California, who served the cause faithfully at all times, especially so during the past few years, spreading the seed of Zionism on his travels, a consistent, courageous man.
We also mention the name of Sholom Aleichem, the man who wrote of the humor of Jewish life, and depicted that life with a loving pen; who created in his works a gallery of Jewish portraits that will be long remembered, and who indelibly recorded the whims and caprices, as well as the pathos of Jewish life, its idiom, its habits, its hopes and aspirations.
We also make solemn but proud mention of our conrades, the young Zionists of Austria, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, England, Turkey and Belgium who fell on the battlefields in the prime of life in defence of the lands of their birth.
Honor be to their memory.
Dr. Schmarya Levin then delivered the greetings of the Inner Actions Comite. He spoke of the sturdy courage of the Zionists of Europe who, in spite of the great sacrifices they have been called to make for the lands of their birth, have managed to maintain their Zionist organizations. He then turned to American Zionist conditions. He said that the differences that have arisen in American Jewry are due to differences in principle between the Zionists and non-Zionists, and there can be no peace under such circumstances without one or the other of the principles being displaced. We cannot make peace with those who propose that Israel is not a nation. The fight against assimilation is not an American conflict, but an international Jewish conflict.
Dr. Louis S. Rubinsohn, grandmaster of the Independent Order Brith Sholom then delivered the greetings of his organization, saying:
ADDRESS OF DR. LOUIS S. RUBINSOHN.
It is indeed an honor to be here with you this afternoon and bid you welcome to this City of Brotherly Love on behalf of the Independent Order Brith Sholom.
When I addressed your Convention in Boston last year, and told you that the Independent Order Brith Sholom had, at its Convention in Hartford, pledged its support to the cause of Zionism, I was really dubious as to the outcome. It is, therefore, with a feeling of pride that I come to you now and say that the pledge of the Convention of 1915 has been faithfully adhered to. Only a few weeks ago, in the City of Scranton, my stand on Zionism was heartily endorsed by the delegates of our Convention there assembled, and it was decided that another day be appointed as a “Shekel Day” on which day members of our Order would make their voluntary contributions to the Zionist Fund.
The Independent Order Brith Sholom is primarily a beneficial fraternal order. Our interest and support of your program is but of recent origin. It is incumbent upon you to cooperate with us if you desire us to increase our activities in your behalf. I have cleared the path for you to enter. See to it that by suitable propaganda you take advantage of the large field which I have opened for you, and within which your activities may be greatly increased and the road to success made easier.