Delegates at Zionist Congress Discuss Goldmann’s Views of U.S. Jewry

The analysis given by Dr. Nahum Goldmann, Jewish Agency chairman, on the outlook in Jewish life in the United States and the tasks of the Zionist movement were the subject of discussion today at the general debate of the World Zionist Congress.

Jacques Torczyner, a leader of the Zionist Organization of America, agreed with Dr. Goldmann that assimilation was gaining ground among Jews outside Israel and said that Jewish day schools are an important tool in the education of Jews abroad. He expressed regret that American Zionism lacked the intellectual leadership that it had 20 and 25 years ago and called for recapturing the idealism which “gave life” to the Zionist movement in the past.

Mrs. Judith Epstein, Hadassah leader, insisted that American Jewry was experiencing a “renaissance” and cited Jewish school registration figures as proof. At the same time she agreed with Dr. Goldmann that it was essential for the Zionist movement to save Jewish unity and consciousness among Jews outside Israel. Mrs. Epstein also asserted that since Israel had become a sovereign state, American Zionists have little voice on political issues and can only participate as “onlookers.”

Berl Locker, Jewish Agency co-chairman, said that the danger of assimilation among American Jews was even greater than the picture of it drawn by Dr. Goldmann. He suggested that one answer to it might be the institution of the type of day schools now being developed in Britain. He asserted that the Zionist movement’s chances for survival are slim without its full participation in the development of Israel.

Baruch Zuckerman, American Labor Zionist and member of the Jewish Agency executive, urged the creation of an all-Jewish body, not connected with the Zionist movement, to take over the task of uniting all Jews in support of Israel. The Zionist movement, under Mr. Zuckerman’s plan, would work for the immigration of Jews to the Jewish State.

DANGER OF ASSIMILATION “VERY GREAT,” U.S. MIZRACHI LEADER SAYS

Dr. S. Federbush of the American Mizrachi, insisted that constitutional reforms could not revive the Zionist movement. He blamed the widespread view that the Diaspora is a home for the Jews and that there is no practical difference between Zionists and non-Zionists for weakening the Zionist movement. The dangers of assimilation are very great, he said, and urged the Zionist movement to carry on more religious-cultural work.

Paul Goldman, American left-wing Labor Zionist, said that Dr. Nahum Goldmann’s proposed territorial organization of the Zionist movement would contribute nothing toward the solution of the “depression” in the movement. He proposed intensive Zionist education and the teaching of basic Jewish values among Jews outside Israel.

Dr. A. Barth, president of the Zionist Congress Court, an Israeli, speaking as an individual delegate, blamed the State and people of Israel for the organic troubles of the Zionist movement. Unless Israel was prepared to accept the Zionist movement as a partner, he stressed, the movement would never be able to reactivate itself.

He took issue with the point of view expressed by Premier David Ben Gurion that only Zionists residing in Israel should exercise a real influence on the development of the State citing the example of Dr. Chaim Weizmann who spent so much of his time outside Israel Finally, Dr. Barth said that there is no justification for the “double shekel” for Israel Zionist parties and appealed to the Congress to redefine the shekel as a personal testament of identification with Israel, a purpose it originally had.

Benjamin Ginsbourg, Mapam delegate from France, pointed out that Jewish youth in various countries abroad were interested in the general problems of their native countries and must be drawn into Jewish life and the Zionist movement through proper education.

Andre Narhoni, an Algerian delegate, called for reform of the system of representation at the Congress and asked that North African Jewry be represented on the Zionist general council. He expressed gratitude to the Jews of the world for their assistance in transferring many thousands of North African Jews to Israel.

M. Carmenian, a delegate from Iran, urged that the Zionist movement pay more attention to the 70,000 Jews in his country who, he noted, had proved to be a constructive element when they came to Israel as immigrants. He criticized the Jewish Agency for not doing enough to attract middle class elements and intellectuals to Israel.

Rebecca Sieff, head of the WIZO-Women’s International Zionist Organization–scored the party system, pointing out that 220,000 women organized in the WIZO received only one seat on the Zionist Organization executive, three on the General Zionist council and five at the Congress and those with only advisory status.

Moshe Kol, head of Youth Aliyah, reported to the Congress that 22,000 children and youth, had been cared for by the movement since the last Congress, and that there were currently 13,000 young people in its institutions. He spoke of a “minimum” and a “maximum” plan for Youth Aliyah for the next four years; the former calling for the care and absorption of 25,000 children in four years, and the latter providing for care for 10,000 annually during the same period.