ASSOCIATE JUSTICE LOUIS D. BRANDEIS - COLLECTION WITH ELIZABETH D. PEABODY - HFSID 91011
Price: $4,250.00
LOUIS D. BRANDEIS
Two typed 1916 letters, one signed by Brandeis, the other by his secretary, to the
Provisional Zionist Executive Committee, which he had led since its founding. Within
the month, he would decide that his appointment to the US Supreme Court obliged him
to resign from formal leadership of American Zionism. Framed to an overall size of
43x21.
Comprises: (1) ELIZABETH PEABODY. Typed Letter signed: "Elizabeth Peabody", 1p,
8x10¾. Boston, Massachusetts, 1916 June 6. On letterhead to Isaac. E. Feinstein, Esq.,
Begins: Dear Sir". In full: "Replying to your letter of the 4th: I regret that owing to Mr.
Brandeis's absence in Washington he will be unable to attend the First Anniversary
Celebration of the Louis D. Brandeis Zionist Club to be held on June 10th. Very truly
yours,". Fold creases at "a" of Peabody. 2 ¼ inch tears at right blank margin. Otherwise, fine
condition. (2) LOUIS D. BRANDEIS. Typed Letter signed: "Louis D. Brandeis", 1p,
8x10¾. Boston, Massachusetts, 1916 June 13. On letterhead to Isaac. E. Feinstein, Esq.
Advisor. Begins: Dear Mr. Feinstein". In full: "Upon my return to the city I find your
very courteous invitation of June 4th. I trust that your organization will be worthily
represented at the coming convention not only by the character of its membership, but by
its numbers. Please send me on July 2nd, to Hotel Walton, a statement showing: First:
The number of paid up members of your organization on that date, and Second: the
amount which your organization has raised during the past year for the Emergency Fund.
Very truly yours," Fold creases at "r" of Brandeis. Otherwise, fine condition. Louis Dembitz
BRANDEIS, the renowned jurist known as "the people's attorney", signed this June 13,
1916 letter only one month before he resigned his position as Chairman of the Provisional
Executive Committee for General Zionist Affairs (PZEC). His decision to step down was a
direct result of his being sworn in as an Associate Justice of the United States
Supreme Court - which took place the day before Elizabeth PEABODY, a secretary at his
Boston law office, signed this June 6 letter on her employer's behalf. The PZEC was created
with Brandeis as Chairman at an emergency conference on August 30, 1914. As World
War I (1914-1918) ripped across Europe, the World Zionist Organization (WZO) faced
destruction. It was time for the American Jewry of all factions to unite in one
organization which would take over the WZO's activities until the situation in Europe
stabilized. Brandeis' first act as Chairman was to establish a $100,000.00 Emergency Fund to
support international Zionist activities; he personally made the first $1,000.00 donation.
Although Brandeis had only taken an active role in the Jewish community since 1912, he was
the most widely recognized Jew in America, not for his religious activities but due to
his reputation as judicial reformer who protected the common man. Many expected
him to lend his prestige to the Committee but assume only a minimal role in its daily
operations; however, Brandies had no such intentions. Taking complete control of the
PZEC, he emphasized the need for increased membership with the slogan, "Men!
Money! Discipline!" and demanded constant reports from each of his groups,
documenting its membership and financial disbursements. At his urging, the PZEC kept
lists of all Jews donating to the Emergency Fund and other relief campaigns as a base from
which to recruit new members, and all Jews were encouraged to join Zionist organizations such
as the numerous Loius D. Brandeis Zionist Clubs; the Hadassa for women - run by its founder
and president Henrietta Szold; and Young Judaea for children. Brandeis' efforts, which were
continued by Judge Julian W. Mack and Dr. Stephen S. Wise after July 1916, made the PZEC
so successful that by 1919, membership had risen from 12,000 to 176,000 supporters
and the budget grew from $15,000.00 to $300,000.00. There was intense opposition
against Brandeis' appointment to the Supreme Court. His main adversaries resented
his stance against big business, but many others acted in response to the anti-Semitic
feelings prevalent throughout the country. Consequently, the Senate forced to spend
four months (February 1-June 1), an unusually long time, investigating Brandeis' moral
character before confirming him. Following the Court's age-old tradition, Brandeis had
severed all connections with his reform activities in order to prevent conflicts of
interest, but he did not end his religious ties. Most non-Jews accepted his right to
participate in religious activities; however, numerous Jews felt that he should resign.
At a meeting of various Jewish organizations held at the Hotel Astor on July 16, Brandeis was
verbally attacked for remaining active in the Jewish community. The incident, which was
reported in the New York Times, forced Brandeis to make a choice between the law
and his religious activities. Within one week, he resigned from his positions within the
Zionist Movement, though he used his influential friends, such as Mack, to maintain
unofficial control of Zionist affairs for the next five years. Two items. Framed to an
overall size of 43x21½.
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