Hadassah Calls for Radical Structural and Functional Changes in Wzcongress

Mrs. Faye L. Schenk, president of Hadassah, called yesterday for “radical structural and functional changes in the World Zionist Congress.” Addressing the opening session of Hadassah’s Mid-Winter Conference, Mrs. Schenk stated that the general debate, a traditional feature of the Congress, “no longer serves as a method of constructive discussion between the diaspora and Israel on common problems.” She urged that a format be found that will “insure genuine dialogue and an exchange of views between diaspora Zionists and Zionists of Israel.”

A resolution on the World Zionist Congress which was adopted by the conference reaffirmed Mrs. Schenk’s view, adding: “The Zionist Congress must not be permitted to become a forum for promoting the ideologies of Israeli political parties. Hadassah’s view that diaspora Zionists should not be affiliated with any political party in Israel was re-enforced by the proceedings of the recent Congress.”

Referring to the Congress which was held in Jan. in Jerusalem, Mrs. Schenk recalled that the Hadassah delegation walked off the floor of the closing session when a resolution was passed requiring that officers of Zionist organizations outside of Israel move to Israel after completing their terms of office. The resolution was subsequently declared unconstitutional by the Congress Tribunal. Despite violent disagreements, she observed, the Congress was encouraging because a large percentage–about 30 percent–of the delegates were young people.

ALLOCATE $400,000 FOR DAY CENTERS

Mrs. Schenk stressed to the Hadassah leaders the important social and domestic needs of Israel and outlined some of Hadassah’s own commitments toward alleviating these pressures. As a result of on-the-spot inspections in Israel between Congress sessions, “Hadassah moved to allocate the sum of $400,000 for the building of three prefabricated day centers in the Jerusalem vicinity to help provide compensatory programs for restive adolescents for whom the public school system is inadequate,” Mrs. Schenk announced. “These three centers will be set up instead of the one voted on at our convention last Aug.”

In the resolution on the World Zionist Congress, the Hadassah conference agreed to “set up a committee charged with the responsibility of making specific recommendations for changes in the World Zionist Congress which it will bring to the American Zionist Federation.” The resolution also called upon the leaders of the World Zionist Organization to initiate a discussion leading to changes in the Congress “so that it may become in fact a vehicle for serious and concerted consideration of the problems that face the Jewish people today.”

CONFERENCE ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS

Four resolutions were introduced by Mrs. Bernice Salpeter, Hadassah’s Zionist Affairs chairman. One declared that President Nixon’s plan to maintain the Middle East military balance “has the wholehearted support of the majority of the American people” and that Congress’ response to Israel’s economic appeals has been “positive.” The statement backed continued “necessary” military aid to Israel; “free negotiations…without precommitments”; “generous financial assistance” by the US to help relieve Israel’s “severely strained” economy; and “secure and recognized boundaries (and), freedom of navigation.”

Another resolution saluted “the heroic Jews of the Soviet Union whose love of Israel and determination to return to their homeland is a new miracle in the history of the Jewish people.” The resolution urged that “we recognize and fully accept our obligation to help provide Israel with the enormous funds necessary for the successful absorption of these olim,” and to express gratitude for the bipartisan Congressional support for an $85 million appropriation bill for this purpose. The resolution also “vigorously” protested “the continued harassment and intimidation of Soviet Jews.”

Another resolution “notes with concern and indignation the desperate condition of Jews in Syria and in some other Arab countries” and urges United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim “to use every possible measure to protect the human rights and dignity of Jews in Syria and other Arab countries where they are in jeopardy, and to facilitate their emigration to Israel or other countries where they may live in freedom.” The fourth draft resolution calls “on our members to oversubscribe our own Hadassah quotas, to increase their contributions to the United Jewish Appeal and to buy more Israel bonds.”