Sam Chait, 62-year-old Montreal lawyer was elected president of the newly-formed Federated Zionist Organization of Canada comprising the ZOC, the labor Zionist movement, the Revisionists, the Mizrachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi, Achdut Ha’avodah, Friends of Pioneering Israel (Mapam) and Hadassah-WIZO.
Philip A. Givens, former Mayor of Toronto, was elected vice-president after withdrawing from a presidential nomination from the floor. John R. Devor of Toronto and Leon Kronitz of Montreal were elected deputy presidents, Mrs. Charles Eisenstat was also elected vice-president. Other officers elected included Sam Sokoloff of Montreal, treasurer; Joel Sternthal of Montreal, assistant treasurer; J. Shoctor of Edmonton, secretary; and Kalman Berger of Toronto, assistant secretary. Honorary president is Lawrence Freiman.
Jon Kimche, former editor of the Jewish Observer and Middle East Review, told the founding convention of the FZOC that those who fought in the War of Independence in 1948 took part more in a revolt against British ruling power than against the Arabs. "We find today a most serious discussion of the nature and intent of Zionism among the younger generation of Arab intellectuals, " he reported."Articles in a periodical of a Beirut university would be an eye opener to most Jews. We must be ready to debate with these people not on a point and counterpoint basis but to face the problems that the Arab intellectuals face."
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.
