ASSOCIATE JUSTICE LOUIS D. BRANDEIS - COLLECTION WITH ELIZABETH D. PEABODY - HFSID 91011
Sale Price $3,612.50
Reg. $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 in the Gallery of History style to 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 in the Gallery
of History style: 43x21½.
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