Actions Committee Gets Plan for Reorganization of Zionist Movement

A plan for the reorganization of the work of the Zionist movement throughout the world was proposed here today at the plenary session of the Zionist Actions Committee by Zvi Herman, on behalf of the Jewish Agency executive. The plan calls for:

1. Establishment of an effective territorial center–recognized as such by the Zionist executive–to be established in every country where there exists or there will be created a concentration of Zionist activity. The necessary arrangements will be made to transfer authority to such a center to conduct its affairs on a countrywide scale in all spheres of joint Zionist activity–such as information and propaganda.

2. Creation of a public opinion favorable to Israel and Zionism; 3. Spreading the Hebrew language and literature; 4. Encouragement of educational and cultural activities; 5. Organization of Zionist youth; 6. Encouragement of training of Chalutzim; 7. Immigration Activities; 8. Work for national funds and in behalf of fundraising campaigns; 9. Youth Aliyah activity; 10. Encouragement of capital investments in Israel; and, 11. Organization of Jewish communal life on a democratic basis.

EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY OF AMERICAN ZIONIST COUNCIL URGED

In regard to the situation in the United States, Mr. Herman called for further efforts to strengthen the American Zionist Council and to increase its effectiveness and make it fit for additional tasks. He urged that the Council’s authority be expanded as the first step toward the creation of a territorial organizational framework to include the existing Zionist organizations without infringing upon their independent existence or interfering with the activities which they carry out in their own special spheres.

In his report, Mr. Herman discussed the crisis in the Chalutz movement, declaring that “it is no secret that we have reached a most disturbing and low ebb, and the number of Chalutzim undergoing agricultural training is insignificant–885.” Of this total, he said, 40 are in the U.S., 120 in England, 200 in France–including Chalutzim in transit to Israel–80 in other European countries, 25 in Australia, 370 in Latin America and 50 in South Africa and other countries.

Dealing with the need for Zionist and Hebrew education, the Jewish Agency leader warned of the “increasing danger of assimilationsim.” He insisted that the task of education was the responsibility of local Zionist groups, but added that for this job to be effective the structure of the Zionist movement would have to be reorganized. Following the presentation of Mr. Herman’s report, a general debate began. American delegates who participated in the debate included Dr. S. Margoshes, General Zionist, M. Kirschblum, Mizrachi, Mrs. Rosensohn, president of Hadassah, and Dr. J. Schechtman, United Zionist-Revisionists.