The Denver Jewish news., 1923-02-21
What | Would Have Said
An Untlelivered Speech by DIR. Alex
anter Lyons of Eighth Avenue Tenn
pie. Brooklyn, n. Y.


of American Hebrew Congregations
was II brilliant gathering of many of
the best representatives of Reform
Judaism in America. While there was
frequently too much crowding and chat
ter there was much to lie grateful FOR
of more substantial and enduring value.
The accomplishment of the occasion
might have been heightened somewhat
| If there had been less rabbinical ser
monization and more logical ai'ticipa-
tion. Now and then | felt that us II
delegate | might have said something
not wholly unworthy of II hearing but
preferred to allow the time To he used
by some laymen whose much needed
interest would he heightened by an OPP
portunity to express and thus feel him
self vital part of an organization
that is and should predominantly he an
effort of the laity. We rabbis will he
helped in our work TO the extent that
we succeed in securing ana holding the
active participation of our members.
This will come with an increased sense
on their part of their practical and
problems. | think. that there would
have been further gain as there might
he in future If rabbis who are invited
to participate would avoid the too com
mon blunder of constituting prayers into
Ipreachmcnts and of utilizing effete SER
mons for what should be scientific dis
cussions.
A further addition. n gainful one. to
the sum total of good TO he credited to
the great New York convention would
have been the passage of the resolution
on the upbuilding of Palestine which I
under the guidance of the chairman-
ship of Mr.. Henry Morgenthau was de-
feated. That resolution called for Il
sympathetic endorsement of and CO.
operation with the enterprises now
ufoot in the lind of Israel for the re-
llial,iiitatiOn of the -lund Of our fathers.
That resolution was defeated principal
formed. that it might have placed the
lcOnvcntion under misunderstanding and
misconstruction with regard to the
Zionistic Movement. To my deep regret
| was not present when the resolution
was brought M for consideration. My
presence WIS required in my own com
munity at that time by reason Of II
serious sorrow in the home of one of
my people Had | been present 1
should as one of the signatories of
the resolution hvae protested vigorous
| ly for 1t Notwithstanding the fact that
never was and am not now as far as
| l know either II Zionist or National
list. What would have said would
have been somewhat as follows:
Mr. Chairman: As one of the sign
ers of the resolution to secure sym
lpatly and practical cooperation for the
rehabilitation of Palestine / desire to
make known the ground of my support
which feel the more urgently since
! for long time l took scant interest
in the enterprise and even now am
under suspicion by some and charged
10y WITH WINS Nh'' 'h'' -
gard as objectionable, Nationalist or
Zionist. To he misunderstood in "A
matter of so vital Importance bothers
me not mt all since as II Jew l ought
to be accustomed to misconstruction.
As long as my conscience is clear and
my conviction confirms that am try
ing to do what from II higher Jewish
standpoint is effective and beneficent
should let the others worry about
their Misunderstanding and miscon-
struction of my conduct.
A Pressing Practical Problem.
"'rhe reason for my substitution of
active sympathy for uninterested 81
| lence in relation to Jewish activities
now afoot in Palestine is to be found
in my visit of some weeks to that land
during the past summer. After the
English protectorate of the country had
been established and the stage of prac-
teal procedure of intending Jewish set
tiers had been reached l felt that the
matter was lifted out of the realm of
the merely theoretical and academic
and had become a pressing practical
problem whose handling rightly or
wrongly would affect all Israel bene
ficially or banefully indifferently to
their attitude to the Nationalist or
Zionist movement. Accordingly l felt
that / ought as an intelligent Jew to
make observations on my own with re-
of the efforts astir in the Land of
Promise to make it n Land of Realiza
tion. Accordingly | went and. as