New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-31
War Paralyzes Activities
of Jews in Europe,
Federation Learns.
l. ID. BRANDEIS HEADS
SPECIAL COMMITTEE
Convention Decides to Raise
100000 for Palestine Schools
and Colonies.

Three hundred delegates. represent
ing various branches Of the American
Federation Of Zionists throughout the
United States, convened yesterday At
the Hotel Marselles. lO3d ST. and
Broadway. 10 take over the work of
the Zionist movement, hitherto under
the direction of the international com
mittee. Prominent Zionists were pres
ent from New Orleans, Texas, Chicago,
Pittsburgh, Boston, Philadelphia, Roch-
ester, Cleveland. Baltimore, Bridgeport
and other cities.
The session Of the congress con-
sumed the entire afternoon and lasted
well into the evening. DR.. Schmarya
Levin, member Of the inner actions
committee of the movement, presided.
It was explained that the federation
in America had received advices from
Europe to the effect that the entire
work of the Zionist propaganda IS
paralyzed in Germany, Austria, Russia
and England, owing TO the disturbance
of credits. lack of employment and the
fact that hundreds of thousands Of
Jews in the various nations have oeen
called to their respective cOlors and
are now fighting in the ranks.
In the meantime. the entire financial
support of the Zionist movement and
the maintenance of the Jewish col
onies and schools in Palestine devolye
upon the Zonists Of neutral nations,
more especially the United States.
TO Awaken National Spirit.
The object of the Zionist movement
is to restore Palestine 20 the jews, 20
revive Jewish industries and crafts.
10 keep alive Jewish culture and art
and to awaken the Jewish national
spirit. With this object in view, the
Zionists have during the last thirty
years established forty-iive Jewish col
onies IN Palestine, which boast of an
agricultural population of farmers and
shepherds to the number of 10000
There have also been established well
developed urban settlements and in
dustrial centres.
IL was decided at yesterdays con-
gress that a provisional executive com
mittee must be established to take
over the work of the now disrupted
international committee. Louis ID.
Brandeis. of Boston, was named as
chairman of the committee, and ac-
ccpted the post in graceful speech, m
which he urged all Jews in the United
States TO support the propaganda.
The remaining members of the com
mittee are Nathan d. KaDlan. Chicago:
Joseph Barondess, New York; Miss
Henrietta Sold, +. ". Levin Epstein.
OF the Palestine interests committee;
Louis Lipsky, chairman of the Fedora
ton of American Zionists; Rabbi
Stephen s. Wise. the Rev. j. L. Magnes
and DR.. Harry Friedenwald, of BaltI-
more.
The convention decided TO RAISE tie
sum of 100000 for the support of the
Jewish schools and colonies in Pal
estine within the next three months.
On motion Of one of the delegates the
subscription was started Immediately.
and $4,000 Of this fund was pledged
before the congress adjourned.
Issues an Appeal.
At the suggestion of Louis ID. Bran
ldeis, Of Boston. chairman Of the pro.
vislonal Zionist committee, il was de
cided to send out an appeal to the
American Jewish people. which reads.
in Part, as follows:
ne great calamity Nnlch mas over
taken Europe has struck the Jewish
people hardest. Not only are there
nearly half million Jews in the
warning armies: not only are they
forced to fight brother against brother.
but one-half Of the gigantic conflict #
nations j. taking place in the Russian
pale IN Galicia, in Eastern Prussia.
The tragedy is still further en-
HANGED by the fact that our people
have so much 10 lose and nothing 20
win in this var Not one of the tight
ing count will lind room for more
I Jews if successful. and IL Is vain 70
hope even for more recognition for the
Jews living there already. To lose so
heavily on all sides without having
anything to win this is one Of the
curses of the Goluth of being depeL-
/ dent everywhere and always upon the
grace OF others.
I'VE have established a chain Of free
} Hebrew schools in Palestine. in which
/ the Generation of Liberty is being
raised, the generation that is building
/ Palestine with firm hand and re-
kndling the pure light of the Jewi n
spirit. These schools must not be
closed"