Up Wise

". . . I refer to Morris Rothenberg. . . ." At that name, 2.000 Jews in Providence, R. I. one day last week leaped to their feet cheering. Then they heard another name. ". . . Rabbi Stephen S. Wise. . . ." Soon thereafter the delegates to the 39th annual convention of the Zionist Organization of America elected Rabbi Wise their president for the next two years; created a new post, that of chairman of the administrative committee, for Morris Rothenberg, Manhattan lawyer and outgoing Zionist president. Thus did U. S. Zionism compose its differences to present a united front against practical threats to their dream of a Jewish homeland.

Dark-maned, trumpet-voiced Stephen Samuel Wise was not in Providence's Biltmore Hotel last week to hear himself elevated to the Zionist presidency. Zionist Wise was in London, conferring with famed Zionist Dr. Chaim Weizmann and members of the British Government on current Arab-Jewish strife in Palestine (TIME, July 6 et ante). From London Dr. Wise sent word of his gratification, added:

"Great Britain must not fail the Jewish people. American Jews dare not fail Palestine."

In Providence the Zionists adopted a resolution demanding arms for Palestine Jews, another condemning Jewish Communists for inciting disorder in the homeland. Then they adjourned, many of them still marveling that they had managed to elect Rabbi Wise their leader. That head of Manhattan's Free Synagog has a large collection of enemies and critics, most of them Jews who dislike the American Jewish Congress, of which he is president. Dedicated to the principle of holding periodic World Jewish Congresses, the U. S. group elected delegates last month who in Geneva next month will probably elect Rabbi Wise their world president. The fact that such a gathering was held two years ago, with Rabbi Wise present, was enough to scandalize conservative Jews who fear that Gentiles will fear that Jews are plotting a WORLD SUPERSTATE (TIME, Nov. 12, 1934).

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.