American Zionist Federation Holds Founding Convention; Jewish Unity is Main Theme

Louis A. Pincus. chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive in Jerusalem, declared here tonight that “Zionism is the only philosophy that has an answer to the burning problems of embattled Israel, of the Jews in countries of discrimination and need like the Soviet Union, and of Jews in the free world.” In a moving and eloquent address to the opening session of the founding convention of the American Zionist Federation, Mr. Pincus also told the more than 1000 delegates representing 13 American Zionist organizations and some 20 student and activist Zionist youth groups, that “Israel’s economy is moving forward and our industrial output and gross national product is increasing at a satisfactory rate,” The Zionist leader added, “However, the overwhelming financial burden on Israel’s taxpayers, arising out of the heavy defense obligations, leave the major responsibility of meeting humanitarian tasks of immigration and absorption on the free Jews of the world.” Mr. Pincus said that the AZF has to include the maximum number of Jews who will contribute in various ways in giving practical help to sustain Israel’s economic growth and assure her survival.

He warned that the current crisis Israel faces “is unprecedented in our 22-year history. The pressures upon the people and the government of Israel are without parallel both in variety and intensity.” Nevertheless, Mr. Pincus declared, “we have the will to survive, and no sacrifices are too great for our people.” The introduction of Soviet pilots and SAM-3 missiles “adds a new and dangerous dimension to our security problem,” he said. “As of this moment, we can hold our own militarily. But what the future holds in store for us, should the USSR become further involved, is a matter of serious and worrisome contemplation.” He mounted an urgent plea for additional Phantom and Skyhawk jets to maintain air strength. “We want no troops from foreign sources, from the United States or from any country. But we do need continuing air strength.” he said. Because the situation for Israel is so grave, Mr. Pincus observed that “never was a united front of American Zionist strength more necessary since the pre-State days when American Jewry played so notable a role in fostering the establishment of Israel.” The present crisis, he added, is one of survival for Jews in Israel and Jews throughout the world. It is in this struggle for survival that Zionism has the only answer, Mr. Pincus declared.

Rabbi Israel Miller, interim chairman of the AZF and assistant to the president of Yeshiva University, was scheduled to address the opening session tonight but was not present due to the death last Saturday of his father, Tobias Miller. His address was read by Mrs. Charlotte Jacobson, past president of Hadassah and member of the Jewish Agency Executive. In his prepared address, Rabbi Miller stated that the “American Zionist Federation is a preparation for 21st Century Zionism. It is our way of proclaiming that humanity is not doomed and that Israel will live. The Jewish people will live, and Zionism will live.” Rabbi Miller observed that the Federation would “motivate American Jews to accept the Zionist principles that the Jews all over the world are one people, united by a common history, heritage, and destiny, with Israel as the center of Jewish life everywhere.” He noted that the new Federation would create a functioning, unified central organization capable of acting in behalf of all Zionists in such areas as aliya, youth, Jewish education, public information and internal Jewish communal affairs. Rabbi Hershel Schacter, chairman of the American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry and Dr. Max Nussbaum, former president of the American Zionist Council, opened the convention in a moving ceremony at the Memorial for the six million Jewish martyrs. Both called for a commitment to the survival of Israel in these times of crisis. The convention will continue through Sunday.