U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas today revealed here that he was “converted to Zionism” by the late Justice Louis D. Brandeis. “I pledge to continue my sympathies for Israel and to do whatever I can for its welfare,” he added.
Justice Douglas made this statement here in an address to a group of young Jewish lawyers. Yesterday, he spoke to a conference of scientists and educators at the Haifa Institute of Technology at which he depicted the waste, devastation and oppression of people which he found in other countries in the Middle East in contrast to the revitalization of the land and the people in Israel.
Emphasizing that he sees Israel emerging as “the great teacher” in the Middle East, he declared: “Here, in Israel, is a force that can give direction and content to the social revolution which is on its way.” He contrasted the turning of fertile soil into desert in the Arab countries with the transformation of desert land into fertile soil in Israel, and advised the Institute to send its technicians throughout all the neighboring lands to train students.
“You have in Israel a testing ground for vital projects and for the rejection of the feudal system that has long held the peoples of the Middle East in its grip. The work of Israel has just begun,” he declared.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
