The Jews of America and Israel must find a new working relationship, Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein, president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, told the 37th annual convention of Hadassah, American women’s Zionist organization, here tonight.
“American Jews should and will not go to Israel because they are afraid of the future in America,” he declared. “That attitude is unworthy of the American and Jewish heritage. Zionism is not Jewish defeatism. It is the progressive, dynamic and democratic answer to the Jewish problem. It does not preclude the right of Jews to remain in the free lands.
“If there are serious problems of anti-Semitism,” he continued, “Americans should meet them with two-fisted courage, not terrified flight. Any approach to American Jews, playing upon fear is doomed to failure. Some Americans should and will settle in Israel. They will go because they have skills which are needed or because they want to live in a totally Jewish environment or want to make Jewish history. These are justifiable and praiseworthy motivations, but the great majority of American Jews will remain in this country.”
Rabbi Bernstein said he saw no conflict between loyalty to America and devotion to Israel. He warned that an “exodus of Jews from America would render a historic disservice to the last great bastion of democracy” and declared that “America needs a vigorous, self-respecting Jewish community.”
RAISED $9,250,000 IN ELEVEN MONTHS
Hadassah raised a total of $9,250,000 for its projects in Israel and activities in the United States during the past 11 months, Mrs. S. Kramarsky national treasurer reported to the convention today. In addition, she reported, Hadasssah chapters have sold Israeli bonds to the value of $4,000,000 and secured pledges for an additional $2,000,000.
Mrs. S. Boneparth, chairman of the Zionist youth activities committee, reported that Hadassah had begun to taper off the nutrition feeding and recreation programs it established in Palestine more than three decades ago, but will continue for the next four years to make a slowly decreasing financial contribution to this work. “Now that there is a state,” Mrs. Boneparth explained, “such programs logically belong under the aegis of its education department.”
Mrs. Robert Szold, chairman of the supplies committee, reported to the convention that Hadassah had purchased and shipped to Israel during the past year some 90 different categories of supplies, ranging from technical medical equipment to children’s clothing and valued at more than $1,000,000.
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.
