The greatest accomplishment is that there is a functioning American Zionist Federation.” This view was expressed here today by Rabbi Israel Miller, AZF president. in describing the umbrella organization which will hold its third national convention this weekend at the Statler-Hilton Hotel in Boston.
Reflecting on the accomplishments of the AZF, Rabbi Miller, who will step down after four years as its leader, pointed out that the AZF had gone through prolonged birth pangs, but now “it is a federation which is the central structure that speaks and acts on behalf of the unified Zionist movement in the U.S., with local Zionist federations established in communities across the country.”
The AZF president remarked that the AZF has achieved new successes in several areas: aliya, media communications program, “Scholars-in-Residence” program, and visitors-to-Israel program. More is being planned by the 600 delegates who are scheduled to attend the convention.
MRS. SCHENK IS PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE
The AZF presidential nominee is Mrs. Faye Schenk who is now chairman of the AZF executive committee and national chairman of the Hadassah Medical Organization. She is also a member of the national board and national executive committee of Hadassah, and serves on the board of governors of the Hebrew University and the presidium of the Zionist General Council.
Top American and Israeli public officials are scheduled to address the convention. They include Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D.Mass.), Brandeis University President Dr. Marver Bernstein, and the renowned halachic scholar and chairman of the Halacha Commission of the Rabbinical Council, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik. The conclave will deal with implementing the AZF’s expanded programs and projects for the next two years, especially in such areas as information, Soviet Jewry, aliya, and youth education programs.
Rabbi Miller said he will continue to be active in the AZF. “As long as there is a need for Zionism, there is a need for the American Zionist Federation,” declared Rabbi Miller who is also a member, of the executive of the World Zionist Organization and the Board of Governors of the Jewish Ag- ency. “There is a need for Zionist groups to be united in some formal structure which must advance the purpose of Zionism. Zionism is a movement of creative continuity.”
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.
