An Historic Fiftieth Anniversary
s
y MENAHEM GELEHRTElt
Fifty years ago, on Feb. 27,
1919, the Jewish people appeared
for the first dine before the
Forum of Nations. A delegation of
the Jewish people was received at
the Paris Peace Conference round
the table of which representatives
of 27 states were assembled.
World War I had ended in No-
vember 1918. Germany, Austria-
Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey had
surrendered to the Allies and an
armistice was concluded. The poli-
tical world was under the impres-
sion of President Woodrow Wil-
son's famous "Fourteen Points,"
one of the most important of which
was the self-determination of peo-
ples. In October and November of
1918, the so-called "Succession
States" of Poland, Czechoslovakia
and Yugoslovakia had come into
existence. The time had arrived to
try and put into effect Herzl's con-
or with the help of others; they
were regarded as the natural heirs
of the former entity—Austria-Hun-
gary. The problem of Eretz Israel
was an entirely different one. The
overwhelming majority of the Jew.
treaty with Turkey and to having
the mandate over Palestine en-
trusted to Great Britain. . These two
objectives, particularly the latter,
were not easily attainable since
France also aspired to the man-
ish people was scattered in all date over Palestine.
parts of the world. At the time of
In February 1919, the Zionist
the Balfour Declaration there were Executive submitted its proposals
only about 50,000 Jews living in to the peace conference. These in
Palestine. The Balfour Declaration eluded the following points: recog-
had not been addressed to them, nition of the Jewish people's his-
but to the Jewish people as a torical claim to Eretz Israel and its
whole. Essentially, the declaration right to rebuild its national home
was a unilateral act on the part of therein; that sovereignty over
Great Britain. To endow it with Palestine be temporarily vested in
international legal effect and to the League of Nations and that
make it binding on the internation- Great Britain be entrusted with the
al world, it had to receive inter- administration of the mandated
national recognition. To obtain such territory; that political, economic
recognition from the Peace Con- and administrative conditions be
ference, Dr. Chaim Weizmann and created so as to facilitate the
Nahum Sokolow now made an all- establishment of a Jewish com-
out effort.
monwealth.
Towards the end of 1918, the
These proposals were drafted
cept that it was one of the tasks Zionist Bureau in Copenhagen and redrafted several times. In its
of Zionism to make the Jewish issued a manifesto to the Jewish final formulation, Dr. Chaim Weiz-
problem the concern of the whole people which included the demands mann and Sir Herbert Samuel, lat-
world and to find its solution in the submitted to the Peace Conference: er to be appointed the first British
1. that Palestine, in her historic high commissioner in Palestine,
Council of Nations.
boundaries, be given to the played an active role. The pro-
The Balfour Declaration, a poli-
Jewish people, as their na- posals had the backing of the Brit-
tical event of the first magnitude.
tional home, and that its un- ish representatives at the Peace
had no precedent or counterpart
disturbed upbuilding be assur-
Conference — Lord Milner and
in history. The new Succession
ed;
Arthur J. Balfour.
States were considered natural
2. that Jews everywhere be ac-
facts, recognized rather than
On Feb. 27, 1919—a truly historic
corded full equality of rights;
created by political acts. Their
date for the Zionist movement and
3. that cultural, social and poli- the whole Jewish people — Weiz-
peoples, dwelling in their own land.
tical autonomy be accorded mann and Sokolow were invited to
had liberated themselves from
to Jews in countries with
political servitude either unaided
appear before the "Council of
large and compact Jewish Ten," the supreme organ of the
populations, if they should so
Peace Conference. They were join-
desire.
HAPPY PASSOVER
ed by M. M. Ussishkin, who rep-
A special body, Comite des Dele- resented Russian Jewry, and Andre
gations Juives, was set up to deal Spire who was to speak in the
BRADY
with the problems and interests of name of the Zionists of France. On
Waste Material Co.
the Jewish minorities in the vari- the initiative of the French govern-
ous countries. This committee was ment, an invitation was extended
1533 MACK
headed by Nahum Sokolow, Judge also to Prof. Sylvain Levy, chair-
Julian Mack. the American Zion- man of the Alliance Israelite Univ-
ist leader. and Louis Marshall, erselle, an outspoken anti-Zionist.
president of the American Jewish
The Zionist case was argued
A Happy Passover
Committee. Leon Motskin served
ably by Weizmann and Sokolow.
as its secretary. Zionist influence
It was on that occasion that
CHRISALLE
on this committee was pronounced.
Weizmann coined his famous
HAIR FASHIONS
As the committee began to oper-
saying that it was the aim of
ate, the Zionist leadership launch-
Zionism to make Palestine as
Specializing in Hair Tinting
ed large-scale activities with a
Jewish as England was English.
17190 Livernois
view to having the Balfour De- ! Ussishkin spoke in Hebrew. For
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claration incorporated in the peace I the first time in 2,000 years, the
language of the Bible was heard
in an international assembly
Sokolow spoke in French and em-
Happy Passover
phasized the eternal bond be-
tween the Jewish people and the
land of Israel and their yearn-
ings for redemption in their
homeland.
14201 W. 8 Mile Road
"From where I was standing,"
Weizmann wrote in his memoirs,
"I could well observe Sokolow's
face, and although I am no senti-
mentalist, I had the feeling that
Passover Greetings
the 2,000 years of Jewish suffer-
ing were reflected on his mien. His
calm and noble countenance deeply
impressed all those present."
Prof. Levy's testimony was scan-
342-7000
15000 W. 7 Mile Rd.
dalous, if not blasphemous; it was
as though he had tried to thrust a
rusty knife into the back of the
Jewish people, as Weizmann put
it. When the Jewish delegation was
Best Wishes for a Happy Passover
leaving
the chamber, Prof. Levy
All
Our
Friends
and
Patrons
to
went up to Weizmann with out-
stretched hands. Weizmann instinc-
tively recoiled and said: "You
have betrayed us." Sokolow react-
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3511 West Fort Street
ed in similar fashion. Arthur
James Balfour sent his personal
secretary to Weizmann to convey
his congratulations on the success-
ful and compelling performance of
Holiday Greetings to Our Patrons and Friends
the Zionist representatives.
The climax came later. By deci-
sion of the supreme council of the
Luncheons — Dinners — Cocktails
Peace Conference at San Remo, on
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18211 John R
April 24, 1920, the Balfour Declara-
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tion was incorporated in the peace
treaty with Turkey, and Great
Britain was entrusted with the
° 00 0-1. 0000 9.1.9-0.1.2-9.siw_sussusitsuu-2-9_9
mandate over Palestine.
To be good is noble, but to
teach others how to be good is
Personally I am always ready to
learn although I do not always
like being taught.
nobler—and less trouble.
—Winston S. Churchill
—Mark Twain .
Best Wishes For Passover
Lester, Harold, Raymond Greenspan
NOR-LES SALES
3915
Detroit, Michigan
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Holiday Greetings
PAUL'S MENU-ETTE'
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10 Mile Road near Lahser
Southfield, Mich.
357-9803
Tom and Merle Coleman
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to All Our Friends and Patrons
GEORGE MIESEL & SON
WHOLESALE GROCERS
Serving Restaurants, Hospitals and Institutions
6000
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Holiday Greetings
ROMA CAFE
Detroit's Oldest Restaurant—Air-Conditioned
Dpen Wednesdays till 10:30 p.m., Sat. 2 a.m. Closed Sundays
3401 Riopelle, corner Erskine
TE 1-5940
A Happy Passover To All Our
Friends and Customers
SAMUEL BROS. CAFETERIA
Eastern Market
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ROSE-HILL BUILDERS, Inc.
SUPERIOR OLDS
SERVICE OFFICE SUPPLY CO., Inc.
Happy Holiday
SOBERMAN & MILGROM
Manufacturer of Mercury Points
7741
Lyndon Ave.
Holiday Good Cheer
SHAW & SLAVSKY, INC.
13821 Elmira
0
Happy Passover
Fish and Chips — Chicken — Jumbo Shrimp
Lobster Toils that you will enjoy — Home-made Pies
Beautiful Dining Room — Large Parties
2216 N. Woodward, 1/4 Mile N. of 12 Mile Rd., Royal Oak
LI 3-7300
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Happy Passover to Our Friends
and Patrons
DAVID WACHLER & SONS
Designers and Manufacturers of Fine Jewelry
19384 James Couzen Hwy. cor. Vassar Dr.
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Special Sizes Made to Order
Elmer and Art Wilde, Proprietors
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Best Wishes for A Happy Passover
To Our Customers and Friends
DRAKE
PRINTING CO.
Holiday Best Wishes
WILDE REGISTER & GRILLE CO.
424 Bellevue
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
LO 7-4890
Friday, March 28, 1969 - 53
Best Wishes or a
Happy Passover
SAMUEL BRODY
& SONS
14411 West Eight Mile
341-6000
Detroit 48235
Detroit, Michigan
SUSIE Q RESTAURANT
VINCENZO'S RESTAURANT
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UN . 4-7530
2000 W. 8 MILE RD., FERNDALE, MICH.
JO 4 5750
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