The Denver Jewish news., 1924-01-31
an Exclusive interview
I.y BEN REUBEN

br. Dsi;is Thon is now visiting This
country for the, purpose of raising
funds fer the revival of Hebrew cul-
ure in Europe. and to assist in ;he
keren Iiayesod work here Since the
death of Adolph Stand. the ardent Zion
ist. and The departure from Poland of
Prof. David NcumarlS and DIR. Nor
dccai EhrcnprcisS Dr. Thon is the Tee
ogniZod leader of The nationally con-
Scious Jewish intcllccluals of Poland.
Dr. Thon unitcs in his person The pure
ly theoretical thinker and the energetic
man Of action. Ever since Poland has
had her own Parliament he has with
I ont interruption held scat rs Deputy
in the Scjm. Today, as president of
Tie Jewish Club. he is the leader of
Z The thirty-four Jewish Deputies and
twelve Jewish Senators in the Polish
Parliament. His inciSivc sarcasm. his;
sharp and quick-wiitcd rctGrs. his log
ical and wrll founded arguments are
feared and Respected by the other Dep
uiios. Whenever Osias ThCn rises 10
speak, the galleries Of the Parliament
are packed the press boxes all ear.
and the Government benches filed. For
This brilliant orator and profound
thinker does not frequently take part
in the dcbaics.> Wien he does partici--
pate, II Is as Il proud nationally con
\ Scious lew WHO represents the inter
cstS Of the Jewish minority with dig
nifty
When, in your mercilcs journalistic
clgcrncss you attempt Ia break through
\ he meaningless generaiilies that he
4 puts mp Ms n defense and press him
A wi I, direct questions on the Jewish sit
\ uation. he looks at you sorrowfnily,
/ with eyes that seem 10 express all the
misery and torture endured by Polish
Icwry in the past few years, His
n slight restless body, his bald head. and
Ills mcditativc face pcrsonify, indeed.
\ The physically helpless Galician Jew
II whose only weapon is his culture. his
4 intellect. Even JOURNALIST has feel
ingS: and SO no,hing remains for him
Mt 10 retreat. and to listen to DIR.
Hebrew cultural renaissance in Poland.
The IIebraic renaissance movement
is making remarkable headway in
L Poland" said Dr. Thon. wh0, in addi-
II lion to his other activities, is a promi-
ncnt Rabbi in Cracow. and Il Hebrew
cSS Iyist IL should have said. primarily
\ an cssuyisD of high calibcr. In the
HI streets Of Polish towns one often passes
II Jewish youths conversins in Hebrew.
II It is no pose with them. hut they feel
II themselves deeply rooted in our beauti-
II full culture When You consider that
] ,hiS is the result of the comparatively
short activity of our world orSaniza-
| iti0n. Tarbuth, you must admit that the
|lirrS,Ilts are gratifying. ] have always
II felt. and now more than ever believe,
|leihat he foundation of all Zionist work
i must he an intensive Hebrew Revival
ilillG .ement throughout the Golus lands.
| Nm f,lt greatly encouraged when, on my
l4nrrival here. / learned that there is
OEcing made in this country serious ef-
Hort to give the Jewish child n Jewish
|llcducation. / know now that my appeal
lfor the strengthening of Hebraic educa-
tion throughout the world will not fall
on deaf ears
HI DR. Thon has come here TO interest
American Jewry in the Tarbuth, an or
gnnization with branches in Poland.
M I.ithuania. Bess-Arabin and Germany.
I'm America ii is cooperating with the
Il ustadrllth Ivrith. of which Reuben
| Brainin is the president. The Tarbuth
organization maintains over four hun
/ drcd elementary schools, about forty
|H I've secondary schools, and eighteen
|h,cmnaries where instructors and teach-
III rrS are being trained for duty all over
MN ,hc world For the past few years DIR.
Thon has devoted much time to this
movement Himself a distinguished He
brew author. he has given unstinting-
lv Of his energy and time for the for
tif,ation and systcmatization of the
activities of the Tarbuth.
The movement for the revival Of
the Hebrew language and culture offers
la platform for all Jews, regardless of
n tbcir affiliations with or Independence
Of any party or organization" contin-
M ned DR.. Thon. 1T is only by present
ing united front in the Diaspora tina
| Hive can hope to attain n strong and re-
spectcd position in the various coun-
| trics where we are Il minority. This