Zionist Movement Gaining Impetus

Julius T. Loeb, Trans. “Zionist Movement Gaining Impetus,” Atlanta Georgian and News (Atlanta, GA), May 12, 1908. https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn89053728/1908-05-12/ed-1/seq-17/

ZIONIST MOVEMENT GAINING IMPETUS

Reported That Jacob Schiff Is Now Friendly to the Plan

(From The Jewish Morning Journal. Translated for The Atlanta Georgian by Rabbi J. T. Loeb.)

    Political Zionism has scored a great victory. A number of the most prominent American Jews are converted to Zionism, and yesterday (Sunday, May 10) was laid the foundation stone of a new organization composed of some of the wealthiest Hebrews in this country. This new organization will be affiliated with the Federation of American Zionists as much as any other Zionist society in America.

    The promoter of this new movement among the wealthier Jews appears to be Mr. Samuel Straus, proprietor and editor of The New York Globe. In his home were gathered yesterday many of the American Jewish aristocracy, and earnestly discussed the Zionist movement. As a result of this discussion the first Zionist society of American wealthy Jews was organized. 

    The purpose of this organization, Mr. Samuel Strauss explained, is to cause the richer classes of American Jews to be interested in Jewish ideals, and to cultivate in their minds the desire to procure Palestine for the Jewish people. 

    “For,” Mr. Strauss added, “there are now but two alternatives left with the Jews: Zionism and assimilation. The latter, however, can not be applied as a remedy for the entire mass of Jewish people: hence it is best to labor for the realization of the Zionist ideal.”

    Besides Mr. Strauss, other prominent Jews spoke on the subject. Mr. Undermyer, of the renowned firm of Undermyer, Gugenheim & Marshall, had expressed himself to the effect that the pitiful condition of the Jews in Russia, Roumania and Galicia has caused him to be interested in Zionism. Mr. Louis Marshall, another member of the same firm, declared that he is interested in Zionism from a religious standpoint, and that “the thinking elements among the wealthy Jews in America now give their most earnest attention to Zionism.” Mr. Marshall further declared that Mr. Jacob H. Schiff has recently addressed to him a letter, from which it is to be clearly deducted that Mr. Schiff, after his visit to Palestine, has not only abandoned his opposition to Zionism but that he is now very friendly disposed toward the Zionist movement, and it is to be hoped that with the first and best opportunity he will become one of the warmest adherents of the cause. 

    Mr. Schiff was not present at yesterday’s gathering, as he has not yet officially lent his name to the movement, but it is an open secret that ere long he, too, will appear as one of the most active members of this new organization.

    One of the plans of the newly organized aristocratic Zionists is to propagate the cause among the wealthier classes of American Jews; also to bring to this country the present leader of the Zionist movement. Herr David Wolfson, in company with Sir Francis Montefiore, of London, Eng.