The World Council of Synagogues, its umbrella organization of the Conservative movement, yesterday joined the World Zionist Organization. In a special ceremony at the WZO headquarters here, which was attended by top official of the WZO and the WCS, Yosef Almogi, chairman of the WZO Executive, welcomed the Conservative movement into the Zionist movement. He described it as “an historic great act,” adding: “I look forward to your early integration into the activities and institutional framework of the Zionist movement. I am sure that you will contribute greatly to strengthening the movement, not only through numbers, but by the enthusiasm and commitment you bring to it.”
Yesterday’s formal ceremony climaxed four years of negotiations which were begun by the late Louis A. Pincus as WZO chairman. The negotiations were completed by Almogi. The WCS represents 2.5 million Jews in 26 countries. Its major affiliates are the Rabbinical Assembly, the United Synagogue of America, the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
Samuel Rothstein, WCS president, also termed the event “historic.” He presented Almogi and Mrs. Charlotte Jacobson, chairman of the WZO American Section, with the formal declaration of affiliation on behalf of the Conservative movement. The declaration, read by Rothstein at the meeting, stated in part: “From its very inception, the Conservative movement has been unswerving in its support of Zionism….We reaffirm our identification with the goals of Zionism by accepting the invitation of the World Zionist Organization to Join its ranks.”
The declaration added: “We reaffirm our commitment to the principle of the legitimacy of religious pluralism for all people, within the Jewish community in Israel and elsewhere and to recognize that the WZO has historically provided a platform for all who share the Zionist ideal, although they may differ in their religious and political views.”
Representation of the Conservative movement on the Zionist bodies will parallel that accorded to the Reform movement, which joined the WZO last year. There will be two Conservative representatives on the WZO Executive, five delegates to the Zionist General Council, and 15 delegates to the World Zionist Congress. The meeting, which was described by Mrs. Jacobson as “a celebration of a marriage,” ended with the toast, “L’chayim.”
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