Hadassah Asks World Guarantee of Mid-east Against Communism

Hadassah, the women’s Zionist organization, called today upon the American Government and Congress to adopt a “firm policy” in the Middle East and to secure international support in guaranteeing that region against Communist aggression. The appeal was made in a resolution at the final session of Hadassahs five-day 43rd national convention here.

The 2,500 delegates attending the convention re-elected Dr. Miriam K. Freund for a second term as national president, and adopted a $9, 000, 000 budget for the coming year to provide funds for the Hadassah Medical Organization, Youth Aliyah, vocational education, Jewish National Fund, youth activities and the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center.

The convention also elected six national vice-presidents: Mrs. Lester Berlove, Rochester, N. Y.; Mrs. D. Leonard Cohen, Westport, Conn.; Mrs, Mortimer Jacobson and Mrs. Siegfried Kramarsky, both of New York City; Dr. Lilli Rahn, Denver, and Mrs. George Rossyn, Malden, Mass. Mrs. Benjamin Gottesman, of New York, was reelected treasurer. Mrs. Max Schenk, also of New York, and Mrs. Murray Shernoff, Harrison, N.Y. , were elected secretary and recording secretary, respectively.

The resolution on the Middle East, adopted by the convention, points out that “further Soviet penetration in the Middle East can most effectively be halted, not by an armed competition, but by launching a vigorous program of economic development and technical cooperation to assist those Arab states desirous of raising the standard of living of their people.”

Speaking at a convention luncheon, Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein, chairman of the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs, declared that Jewish immigrants to Israel from Iron Curtain countries report “a constant flood of anti-Jewish poison in the press, the removal of Jews from important positions in Russia’s life, and the most violent anti-Israel propaganda. “The Russian regime is anti-Semitic- the Russian people are not,” he said.