A statement outlining the aims of the newly formed Brith Rishonim of the Unites States–an association of honorary Zionists who have credentials of membership in an American Zionist organization prior to 1930–was issued here today by the organization’s committee of which Louis Lipsky, veteran of the American Zionist movement, is president.
The statement emphasized that the formation of the Brith Rishonim “is not intended to create a new grouping of a party nature. The Brith Rishonim of the United States will include Zionists of all parties or groups; it shall be concerned with the totality of Zionism–its history and traditions, its honor and its dignity, ” the statement says.
The new organization will meet from time to time “in order to give public expression to opinion on important issues in current Zionist life. ” It will seek to “protect and defend the honor and prestige of the Zionist movement. ” It will also endeavor to collect and preserve data dealing with the history of the Zionist movement in the United States, particularly the “individual contributions made by American Zionists in the pre-state development of the Jewish National Home. “
The annual membership dues of the Brith Rishonim will be five dollars. Collections may be made for specific purposes for projects in Israel, if and when decided upon by the administrative body. The organization committee is composed, in addition to Mr. Lipsky, of Dr. S. Federbush and Dr. Samuel Margoshes, vice-presidents; Meyer Brown, treasurer; Morris Margulies, secretary; and Paul L. Goldman, Rose L. Halprin; Rabbi Mordechai Kirshblum; Dr. Joseph Schechtman and Robert Szold.
“The inspiration for the initiation of the Brith Rishonim of the United States came from the Brith Rishonim of Israel, which, sometime ago, was established in Jerusalem by an all-inclusive group of distinguished Zionists headed by the illustrious veteran leader of Religious Zionism and member of the Knesset, Rabbi Mordechai Nuirock, “the statement said. “It is expected that similar groups shall be formed in every territorial union in which a substantial number of Zionists are to be found. Each group shall adopt its own rules and programs,” it emphasized.
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