Agudah World Parley Concludes in New York; Adopts Decisions on Israel and Relief Work

The plenary session of the world executive of the Agudas Israel concluded its nine-day deliberations in camera here and issued a communique today making public a series of resolutions adopted at the parley.

One of the major resolutions provides for the calling of a world Agudah congress in Jerusalem to open July 28, 1950. This will be the first such congress since 1937. For the interim period, present Agudah policies were confirmed.

After considering a report from Rabbi I.M. Lewin, Agudah member in the Israel Cabinet, concerning his work and that of members of the Agudah in the Israel parliament, it was unanimously decided to adopt this report although some differences of opinion developed during the debate which preceded the report’s adoption.

Expressing appreciation to Rabbi Lewin for his work, the session called upon him to continue his participation in the Israel Cabinet “according to the constant guidance of the Council of Torah Authorities in Eretz Israel.” At the same time the session called upon the Agudah representatives in the Israel Government and in the parliament to intensify their efforts “for the rule of the Torah in Eretz Israel.”

A Central Rescue Commission was established to coordinate the rescue and relief activities of the various branches of the Agudas Israel in Europe and in North Africa. The Agudah in Israel was instructed to expand its work for the new immigrants. Special stress was also laid in the resolutions adopted at the session for the creation and support of religious institutions in Israel as well as in all other countries.

The session dealt with the position of the Poale Agudas Israel, the labor wing of the Agudah, especially with the fact that in some matters this group acted independently without the consent of the highest Agudah bodies. Confidence was expressed that in the future, the Agudah laborites would desist from taking political steps independently of the Agudas Israel organization.

The conference established a Central Propaganda and Organization Commission to strengthen the Agudah movement in all parts of the world. It issued an appeal to world Jewry to give “its full loyalty to the Torah, the sacred heritage of the Jewish people,” and called for the mobilization of all resources for the building of Israel and for the strengthening of the religious activities there.

The achievements of the Agudas Israel world organization were outlined at a reception tendered to the delegates from overseas attended by about 3,000 people and addressed by Jacob Rosenheim, president of the organization, Rabbi I.M. Lewin, Israel Minister of Welfare, H.A. Goodman, political secretary of the organization, and others.