The controversy within the ranks of American Zionists has assumed a new phase, which may lead to many complications at the forthcoming convention of the Zionist Organization of America, with the authorization granted to the Administrative Committee “to take steps” in regard to the Hadassah.
The National Executive Committee of the Zionist Organization, which was in session all day Sunday at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, discussed at length the attitude of the Hadassah National Board and the charges brought against it that by its recent actions in the controversy and by its acting as a political caucus, passing a resolution of no confidence, the Hadassah violated the agreement on the basis of which it has become a part of the Zionist Organization of America.
Louis Lipsky presided at the morning session and Morris Rothenberg at the afternoon session, when the resolution was adopted. Although the committee was in executive session, the Jewish Daily Bulletin learns that many members of the committee demanded that the agreement with the Hadassah, entitling the women’s organization to representation at the national convention, be abrogated. Others demanded that the committee limit its action only to the issuance of a warning to the Hadassah convention that in case the convention fails to censure the national board for overstepping the agreement, the contract will become invalid. Doubts was expressed whether such action would bar the delegates of Hadassah chapters from the Zionist convention.
The resolution, which was unanimously adopted, follwed neither proposal, but empowered the Administrative Committee to follow a course which will be deemed necessary to bring about, Hadassah’s “complete adherence” to the agreement. The Committee was also charged with presenting a new plan for regulating the relations between the Z.O.A. and other bodies which may be or desire to be affiliated with the Zionist Organization of America.
The resolution as adopted read:
“Whereas, the World Zionist Organization has recogrized the Zionist Organization of America as the supreme body in general Zionist matters for the United States and.
“Whereas, the Zionist Organization of America entered into an agreement with Hadassah, and,
“Whereas, by the agreement entered into between the Zionist Organization of America and Hadassah certain rights of autonomy were conferred on Hadassad, and,
“Whereas, it was understood that Hadassah should enjoy these rights only in relation to its specific obligations in maintaining its’ medical and sanitary work in Palestine, and,
“Whereas, it was not the intent of this agreement that Hadassah should constitute itself a parallel body to the Zionist Organization of America, and act independently of the Zionist Organization of America in matters of Zionist policy, and,
“Whereas, actions taken by the National Board of Hadassah have violated the spirit of the agreement entered into by the Zionist Organization of America and Hadassah, and,
“Whereas, such action tends to jeopardize the authority of the Zionist Organization of America, therefore, be it
“Resolved, That the National Executive Committee authorizes the Administrative Committee of the Z. O. A. to take steps to bring about a complete adherence to and fulfilment of the said agreement on the part of Hadassah, and work out and present a general plan for the affiliation of various Zionist bodies within the Zionist Organization of America.”
The biennial meeting of the People’s Sheltering Guardian Society of New York was held at the orphanage, Plensantville, N. Y. on Sunday.
The seventy-ninth birthday of the President of the Society, Adolph Lewisohn, was also observed. Dr. Frederick R. Robinson, President of City College; Dr. William J. O’Shea. Superintendent of New York City public schools, and Dr. Nathan Krass, rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, New York, praised the work of Mr. Lewisohn during the twentyfour years of his presidency of the society.
The financial report revealed that the society had expended $467,014 during the last fiscal year, of which $153,698 came from the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies. The balance included grants from the City of New York.
The following were elected directors: Bonjamin J. Buttenweiser, Henry S. Glazier, Bernard Naumburg, Louis S. Posner, Charles A. Riegelman Judge Otto A. Rosalsky, Mrs. Jacob Stern. Henry Wollman, and Arthur Zinn for three years and Colonel Herbert H. Lehman, Mrs. Abraham Levy, Sam A. Lewisohn, Alfred Rbeinstein, Alfred S. Rossin, Julius H. Ussman, Louis Surut and Joseph H.Wise for two years.
Dr. Abraham Flexner has been invited to be Caylorian Iecturer at Oxford this Autumn and has accepted. a despatch from London to the “New York Times” states.
In his Caylorian lectures he will further develop the theme of his Rhodes Trust lecturer–modern university development.
Dr. Flexner will come to the United States at the end of June or July and return to England in October.
Lonis E. Kirstein vice president of William Filene’s Sone Company was elected a director of the National Better Business Bureau at a meeting held in New York. Mr. Kirstein is one of the leading merchants of Boston and is active in social and philanthropic work. He is a former president of the Federation of Jewish Charities.
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.
