The Zionist Actions Committee split up into committees today to carry on the work of its session, following the conclusion this week-end of the general debate.
In the final session devoted to debate, Louis Segal, American member of the Jewish Agency executive, pointed out that much of American Jewry’s efforts in behalf of Israel were carried on outside the Zionist movement. The question is, he continued, whether it is possible to incorporate the non-Zionist personalities and groups within the framework of the Zionist movement.
Rabbi Irving Miller, chairman of the American Zionist Committee on Public Affairs, spoke of the positive atmosphere in the United States toward Israel as evidenced by the attitude of press and radio, despite increased Arab propaganda. Dr. Miller took issue with some of Premier David Ben Gurion’s views.
Mrs. Judith Epstein of Hadassah insisted that American Jewry’s aid to Israel was motivated by a deep love, rather than by philanthropy alone. To attract non-Zionists to the fold, “Mrs. Epstein said, the movement must work closer with them and both must make allowances for each other and not exaggerate criticism.
Dr. Sarah Feder, president of the Pioneer Women of America, expressed concern for the failure of American Zionist groups to grow. But she did credit Jewish women’s organizations with an increase in various activities and urged that pioneering and cultural activities be brought to American Jews in outlying areas, particularly the Far West and the South.
Baruch Zuckerman saw a need for changing the relationship between the State of Israel and the Zionist movement, maintaining that matters will remain unclarified as long as there is no clear definition of the difference between a Zionist and non-Zionist friend of Israel. He asserted that millions of Jews in the Communist countries follow developments in Israel and “silently sympathize” with the Jewish State.
Zalman Shazar, speaking on educational activities of the Zionist movement, called for increased allocations for such activities outside Israel. P. L. Goldman of the Left Poale Zion asked for funds for large-scale education work among American youth. Mapam’s Yitzhak Natani stressed the importance of Jewish schools abroad and urged that Jewish youth instructors in other countries be encouraged to come to Israel to study.
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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.
