Rose Halprin Reports on Zionist Congress; Outlines U.S. Zionist Tasks

Emphasizing that the World Zionist Congress, which took place this month in Jerusalem, was the first Congress “to squarely face the problems of the Diaspora on a priority basis,” Mrs. Rose Halprin, chairman of the American section of the Jewish Agency, told a press conference today that upon the Zionist movement in this country depends the character and importance of the Zionist movement in the world.

“There is no denying that the future of the Zionist movement will be a reflection of the success of the movement in this country.” she said reporting on the outcome of the Congress which she attended. “We, in this country, must recognize this fact, and act accordingly. We will not make progress through any great slogans, or through glib statements and addresses. We must build realistically from what we have. This is the hard way; there are no easy panaceas. This is a challenge to the American Zionist Council, which represents all aspects of the movement in the United States.” She stressed that the American Zionist Council has three immediate tasks:

“1. It must give at least adequate minimal support to its own machinery. The test of the sincerity of its components will be their recognition of the validity of the Council and their support of it.

“2. The Council must provide its leadership throughout the country with the information and resource material necessary for them to participate fully in their responsibilities as Zionists in the Councils of their communities–in community councils, welfare funds, and allocations committees. Zionists must stand up and be counted, not only as individuals but also as Zionists.

“3. The Council must hammer out a position on Jewish education. It must seek the counsel of experts, and it must evolve an educational position that will be effective in meeting the problems of assimilation that beset us. We must recognize that the problem that faces us as parents, as Jews and as Zionists is one of attrition even more than that it is of overt assimilation. The American Zionist Council must bring together the best minds of America to work on this problem.

Declaring she was heartened by the active participation of youth at the Congress, Mrs. Halprin said: “It is needless to say they represent our future. I’m happy that we recognize this truth in practice as well as in theory. Youth must be worked with, difficult as this can sometimes be. But after the 26th Zionist Congress, youth will become a part of the structure of the reorganized Zionist movement and the Congress of the future.”