Strong sentimenl prevailing among the Jewish masses for building up Palestine received full, expression when the overwhelming majority of the Canadian Jewish Congress voted in favor of a resolution “to assist the Jewish Agency in the uphuilding and development of the Jewish homeland, Palestine.”
A small minority desired tn eliminate the words “Jewish homeland”, but was voted down emphatically by the representatives sympathetic to it, who staged a triumphant scpno fea-tivrina the sinking of “Hatikvah.” The expected storm over the question failed to materialise. Another disputed question was finally thrashed out satisfactorily by the adoption of a resolution favoring the popular direct, secret vote, instead of leaving this matter in the hands of the various divisions.
Among the twenty-six other planks adopted for the Constitution “Were clauses safeguarding political, economic and social rights. Tt was decided that all adults above, the ago of eighteen would be allowed to participate in the Congress elections, A resolution to participate in the World Jewish Congress was passed. Other planks protested againstanti-Semitic propaganda, called npon the British government to remove restrictions against Jewish immigration to Palestine and sought kashtufh legislation.
Assurances that this Dominion will not stand for anti-Semitic jfrbpd-. ganda and the dissemination of false hatreds were given today a.t the closing morning session of the Congress. “Equal rights fur all and special privileges for nonp”, was the encouraging motto adopted hy “Mayor Stewart of this city in greeting the delegates in the name of Toronto. A rousing welcome was given to. him. lie was introduced by Alderman Nathan Phillips, who recalled how the mayor trod on the.swastika and dispersed Hitler ballyhoo here last summer. “The Jews as, a minority are entitled to full rights and as long as I am mayor no one will trespass upon them,” he reiterated.
This sentiment -was echoed by Dr. Challis, Provinial Secretary, who spoke to the: representatives in. the absence of Premier Plenty of the Province of Ontario. Dr. Challis, presented to ‘he audience by; E. F. Singer, only Jewish member o??? the Provincial Parliament, asserted that “for one hundred years the Jews have enjoyed all privileges in the Provinc of Ontario, and so it will continue.”
At the luncheon session, Joseph C. Hyman, executive director of the Amriean Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, described the critical condition of the German Jews and issude an appeal to save German youth.
Only one hitch marred the itayls proceedings. The reform element in Toronto, constituting the center, division, withdrew from the Congress late this afternoon, objecting to the plank in the Congress platform calling for a national home in Palestine. Other resolutions submitted were concerned with the permanency p{ the Canadian Jewish Congress, Jewish education in the Dominion, cooperative farming and the World Jewish Congress.
A huge mass meeting tonight concluded the second session of the Congress, fifteen years after the momentous first Congress.
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.
