The need for greater vigilance by Italian Jewish youth against the resurgence of neo-fascism in Italy and for more aliyah to Israel were the principal positions taken in resolutions adopted by delegates to the Thirteenth Congress of the Italian Jewish Youth Federation.
The Chief Rabbi of Rome, Elio Toaff, the president of the Rome Jewish community, Fausto Pitigliani, and representatives of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities Council took part in the inaugural session. The resolution, calling for greater youth efforts in defense of constitutional freedoms, emphasized that the fight against fascism was an expression of the universal principles of Judaism.
The delegates, in another resolution, declared that emigration to Israel constituted the “fundamental essence” of Zionism and added that any other interpretation was incorrect and should be labeled only “spiritual and material aid to the State of Israel. ” The delegates also urged the re-establishment in Italy of training farms for Italian youth planning to settle in Israel, in cooperation with other youth movements such as Bnai Akivah and Hashomer Hatzair. The delegates urged all members of the federation to intensify efforts to encourage the migration of young Italian Jews to Israel.
Two contrasting views emerged among the delegates as to the basic task of the youth movement. One group advocated greater intervention in the fight against fascism and the taking of stands on such international issues as support of the Algerian rebellion. The other view stressed the need to place protection of Jewish interests above all other programs.
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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.
