Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, closed the session of the Zionist Actions Committee with an address devoted chiefly to the new financial instrument which the Committee decided to organize to channel Zionist participation in Israel’s upbuilding, in addition to the United Jewish Appeal and the Israel bond drive.
One of the chief reasons for the crisis in the Zionist movement, Dr. Goldmann told the 100-member committee, is that except for ideological debates there is today no large-scale pro-Israel activity which is exclusively conducted by Zionists. Fund-raising, investment and public educational work in Israel’s behalf is also carried on by non-Zionists.
As a result, the WZO president continued, Zionists are only members of a general orchestra of Jewish pro-Israel activity. What Zionism needs is a chance to act also as a soloist and the new financial instrument should enable the Zionists to engage in some special activity for Israel.
He stressed that the new instrument–whose form will be worked out in the next two months–will not compete with existing organizations like the UJA and bond organization, but will be different, will be directed only by Zionists and will be conducted within the framework of the Zionist groups.
If this new instrument fails, he warned his listeners, the Zionists will have only themselves to blame–not Israel or the Jewish people. If it succeeds, he said, it will not only aid Israel but will revitalize the Zionist organizations.
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