American Jewish Congress Endorses Extension of Jewish Agency

The American Jewish Congress, whose leader, Dr. Stephen S. Wise, was one of the staunchest opponents of the extension of the Jewish Agency as agreed upon by Dr. Weizmann and Mr. Marshall, adopted a resolution welcoming the extension of the Agency. Dr. Wise, the retiring president of the Congress, concurred in the resolution, with the only reservation that as a member of the Zionist Congress he leaves to himself the right to emphasize at the forthcoming session in Zurich that the extension of the Agency be carried out in accordance with the resolutions of the Zionist Congress and on the basis of democratic principles. When he announced that he supports the resolution, Dr. Wise was given a long ovation by the delegates.

Bernard S. Deutsch was elected president of the American Jewish Congress; Dr. Stephen S. Wise, honorary president; Louis Lipsky, Max Silverstein, Carl Sherman, Mrs. Archibald Silverman, Benjamin Winter and Dr. Haim Fineman, vice-presidents; Bernard G. Richards, executive secretary; Morris Weinberg, treasurer: Rabbi Solomon Goldman of Cleveland, Rabbi Barnett Brickner of Cleveland, Jacob Ginsberg of Philadelphia, Judge Aaron Levy of New York, Rabbi B. L. Levinthal of Philadelphia and Judge William M. Lewis of Philadelphia honorary vice-presidents. As members of the administrative committee the following were elected: Judge William M. Lewis, Rev. Z. H. Masliansky, I. Moses, Rabbi Louis I. Newman of San Francisco, Judge Hugo Pam of Chicago, Nathan D. Perlman of New York, J. Meiser, Leon Sanders, Elihu D. Stone, Boston, Leo Wolfson, Judge Gustave Hartman, Samuel Sturz, Max Hollander, Elizabeth Bloom, Abraham Goldberg, Mrs. Robert Szold, Judge Brodsky, Meir Brown, Martin L. Levy and Herman G. Robbins.

A budget for the coming year was adopted in the amount of $44,000, which includes the sum of $13,284 to cover the present deficit. A resolution was adopted protesting against the persecutions of the Jewish religion, Hebrew and the Zionist movement in Russia. The influence of the Yevsektzia, the Jewish section of the Communist party was hinted at, although the Yevsektzia was not mentioned by name.

A special resolution expressed the gratitude of the American Jewish Congress to Dr. Stephen S. Wise for his “devoted and untiring efforts in behalf (Continued on Page 4)

TEXT OF AGENCY RESOLUTION

The text of the resolution on the Jewish Agency read:

“The American Jewish Congress hails the effort of the World Zionist Organization to enlarge the Jewish Agency to the end that it may include all Jewish forces in the upbuilding of Palestine. It recalls with genuine pride the fact that at its very first session in 1918 it proclaimed the principle that the building of the Jewish National Homeland was the privilege and task of all Jews.

“Now, as then, the Congress stresses the essential requirements that the Agency be constituted on a thorough-going democratic basis and that in all respects the fundamental principles of Zionism be preserved inviolate. And it looks to those entrusted with the shaping of the policies of the enlarged Agency to include therein the representatives of centrally organized Jewry the world over, and in particular of this Congress, as representative of leading central organizations in American Jewry; its sanguine hope and confident expectation being that ultimately a world Jewish congress will be established to embrace the function and to guide the destiny of the Jewish Agency.

“To the cause of the Jewish Agency, thus conceived and formulated, the Congress pledges its loyal, enthusiastic and unremitting support.”

TEXT OF AMITY RESOLUTION

The resolution urging unity between the American Jewish Congress and the American Jewish Committee read as follows: “Whereas American Jewry has been aroused to a consciousness of the hurtful division which exists between the principal organizations dealing with the problems vitally affecting Jewish rights at home and abroad; and

“Whereas the cause of Jewry is paramount to any or all of the organizations concerned with Jewish problems; and

“Whereas the American Jewish Congress believes that steps should be taken to coordinate the activities of these organizations; now.

“Therefore be it resolved that the American Jewish Congress recommends the appointment of a joint committee, which committee shall arrange for an early conference of representatives of the American Jewish Committee and American Jewish Congress to the end that sorely needed unity of action with respect to Jewish problems may be effected and present and potential causes of discord in Jewish life be thus averted.”

Bernard S. Deutsch, lawyer, president of the Bronx County Bar, Association, was born in Baltimore, Md. September 25, 1884. He was educated at the College of the City of New York. from which he received his B. S. in 1903. He received his LL.B. from New York Law School in 1905. He was general counsel of the United Real Estate Owners’ Association, chairman of the Bronx branch of the League of Nations Non-Partisan Association. In 1925 he was appointed by Governor Smith a member of the New York State Municipal Court Commission.

He is vice-president of the Bronx Y. M. H. A., vice-president of the Bronx division of the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies, a member of the Jewish Council of Greater New York, a member of the special calendar committee of the Appellate Division. Supreme Court, and a member of the Free Synagogue.