Evening star., 1923-09-09
NEWS OF THE JEWISH WORLD
BY RABBI JACOB S. MINKIN

The Thirteenth Zionist Congress at
Carlsbad has come and gone Ac-
cording to reports 1t was a calm. pro-
sale and dispassionate affair. IT
failed to create that deep impression
and stirring appeal which delegates
carried away from some of The for
mer congresses. 1t lacked the mag
netic rresenee of, ii DR.. IIerZl. or the
electrifying- appeal of DIR. Nordau's 5
addresses. ;, OF course, there was the
dynamic DIR. Weizman. welding his
battle-a in. the face of his OPP
ponents. and the suave. charming and
versatile. Sollelew. hut neither of
them was able to whip his audiences
into old-time enthusiasm. Not that
the congress was lacking in occasion
al electrical storms. There We're
moments tense and anxious. when the
opposition from all parts Of the world
was directing its battery of GRITTY
cism of the present administration.
but it was all blown away like 4 wind
when DIR. Wef2man. president of the
world Zionist organization. outlining
his policy, coupled it with the ulti-
matum, This is my way OF course,
there are other systems but they will
require other men to carry them
through The delegates felt that
he meant what he said, and, eager for
change as some were, the feeling
was general that there was no man
in sight equal to DIR. Weizman to as
sumo the leadership of the Zionist
organizatio The usual vote OF con
fidenCe was passed and amid the
singing Of "HatikNah." the Zionist
national anthem, til" delegates de-
parted for their respective countries.
some with cheer and others with re-
sret in their hearts.
The Zionist Congress. the creation
OF the late DIR. Herzl, has become a
characteristic feature of Jewish life.
even before the war. 1t, was the
one constructive event amid myriadS
of activities of modern JeWry. The
delegates at least in the earlier days.
were always animated with the hope
OF some great revelation, of some
striking pronounCement foreShadow- =
ing the rebirth of IsraeTs glories in
the Holy Land, and even after the
first vision was shattered they still
felt uplifted as they Travelled to the
scene of the congress, attuned to a
noble purpose, intent upon high
Now all the dreams and fancies Of
former Years have been CryStallzed
into realities, perhaps ra her actuali-
ties. and so at the last congress there
was less singing of "Hatikvah," but
more talk of Concrete developments
of the immigration of ChalutZlm Cpl
oncers). the creation of new settle
mentS, the maintenance of schools.
the promotion of public works, etc.
Jews i'm China.
There We're jews in China since time
immemorial. though tn" manner of their
settlement and the trick of fortune that
brought them there IS Il matter of con-
lecture rather than history. The first
reliable records Of Jews in China We're
found with Tartar travellers in the ninth
and fourteenth centuries, although con-
lectures are rot wanting which place
the date of their settlement there at ii
more antique period. According to
some pSeudo-hfStorianS they are the
remnants of the Ten Lost Tribes whose
disappearance after the destruction of
the northern ISraelitiSh kingdom is
shrouded in darkness.
Though there are Jews TO be found
scattered all over China. the largest
single Jewish community is no doubt
that of Shanghai George T.. Sokolsky
gives an account Of the mixed element
of the Shanghai Jewish community in
the Jewish Tribune of recent date. 1t
would Seem that while the Jewish COM
munity of Shanghai has been augmented
by large influx of Jewish refugees
from Siberia, the most ancient settlers
are those that hail from Baedad. These
Jews are usually well VerSed in the
Talmud. orthodox and contribute lib
orally to all Jewish institutions. They
maintain in Shanghai "A magnificent :
synagogue. a Jewish school and other
facilities for the observance of the
Jewish religion.
The Arabian Jews are poor and un
assuming people. They arc often beg
carly. wear a distinctive garb and live
mostly by employment given by their
richer BaSdad -rcligioniSts. The