27th Convention of American Zionists Opens in Pittsburgh

The 27th annual convention of the Zionist Organization of America opened here today at the William Menn Hotel with seven hundred delegates present, from all parts of the country.

The most outstanding feature of the opening session was the great demonstration in honor of Mr. Louis Lipsky, the Chairman of the Zionist Organization of American. A resolution expressing satisfaction at Mr. Lipsky’s becoming a member of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization was offered by Mr. Emanuel Neumann, Executive Secretary of the Keren Hayesod, and seconded by Rabbi Joseph Silverman, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Emanu-El, New York City.

The resolution paid tribute to Mr. Lipsky as the “leader of American Zionism.” Rabbi Silverman in seconding the resolution, compared the work of Mr. Lipsky with the work of the Brandeis group, without naming the latter, saying that when former leaders of the Zionist Organization decided either to

rule or ruin, Mr. Lipsky stepped into the breach and ruled without ruining.

The convention was greeted by a representative of the Mayor of Pittsburgh, and by Rabbi Ashinsky, who delivered an address in Hebrew.

Mr. Lipsky, in his speech, as Chief Executive of the American Zionists, reviewed the great change which has been brought about in Jewish life in America and in other countries by the work of the Zionist Organization. Referring to the present political quarantees in Palestine, he stated: “Palestine with such guarantees as we have is not a pawn. It is the Queen of the Game that dictates the strategy of the future.”

All that is further required for the final achievement of the Zionist ideal, Mr. Lipsky added, is the labor and the sacrifice of the Jewish people. This spirit has already made itself so evident in Palestine that many visitors, who have previously been indifferent to the cause, come back stirred to sacrifice and work for the rebuilding of Palestine.

Mr. Lipsky concluded his message with a passionate plea that the gates of Palestine be opened to the thousands of Jews, who are lingering in unfriendly ports, from which they must be rescued.

He also stated that the Zionist Organization is ready and willing to work together for the rebuilding of Palestine, even with those elements in Jewry, who are unwilling to join the organization. Speaking of these he said:

“The Zionist Organization should have faith in the Jewish people. Let them work their way into the new life without recrimination, freely. Let them come into contact with the living evidence of the practical value of our ideals as Palestine reveals them. Let them join in the building. Let them know the new type of Jew Zionism has created, and you will soon see how without their passing through the door of the Zionist Organization (the door which, although always open, they are still disinclined to use) the walls that have divided us will crumble and without prolonging an internecine war we shall achieve our aim.”

The following were elected to the Committee on Committees of the Convention: Chairman, Moe Turman, New York, Secretary, Meyer Abrams of Chicago; Aaron Garber, Cleveland, Israel Kurland, Baltimore, J.I Rudavsky, Brooklyn, Julius Haber, Brooklyn, Max Conheim, Chicago, A.O. Branz, Fall River, Robert Silverman, Boston, Jacob Ish-Kishor, New York, A.M. Ress, Pittsburgh, Theodor Racoosin, New York, Rabbi Samuel Sachs, Portland. Jacob Heckman, Washington, D.C., David R. Sandler, Atlantic City, Hendel N. Fisher, Boston, Mrs. Joseph Goldman, Baltimore and Miss R Ruth Cohen, New York.

Mr. Lipsky was elected Chairman of the convention and the following were elected Vice Chairman: Henrietta Szold, Morris Rothenberg, Max Shulman, Elihu D. Stone and Judge Gustave Hartmann. Meyer Weisgal was elected General Secretary and David Tennenbaum, Assistant Secretary. Dr. J. Bernstein was elected Hebrew Secretary and Jacob Ish Kishor Yiddish Secretary.

The following message was received from Mr. Nathan Straus:

“We have not worked and sacrificed in vain. We have laid the foundation of a work that will last forever.”

Dr. Chaim Weizmann greeted the convention with the following message:

“On my three visits to America I learned with increasing appreciation and respect the full force and significance of American Zionism. America will be the sustaining power for world Jewry, as Russian Jewry once was. The World Zionist Organization has every confidence in you.”