Hadassah Convention Asks U.S. to Intervene with Moscow on Jews

Hadassah’s 49th national convention called on the United States Government today to make efforts to persuade the Soviet Union to halt discriminations against Jews in the USSR. The resolution called on the U.S.A. “to take every appropriate measure, in and out of the United Nations, to move the Soviet Union to cease discriminatory practices against the Jewish citizens of the Soviet Union.”

Another resolution deplored “the misuse of American foreign aid funds in every respect and, especially, where such funds are used to provide economic aid to countries preparing to attack their neighbors.” The Hadassah delegates called on the United States Senate to approve the Gruening-Javits amendment, similar to one already approved by the House. The amendment stipulates that no assistance shall be provided a country like Egypt if the President determines such a country is engaging in or preparing for aggressive military efforts directed against the United States or any nation receiving American assistance.

At the same time, Hadassah’s resolution recognized the “significant role” the U.S. Agency for International Development has had in assisting developing countries.

Hadassah presented its Henrietta Szold Award to Dr. Albert B. Sabin, discoverer of the oral anti-polio vaccine. Presentation of the citation and a gift of $1,000 were made by Hadassah national president Mrs. Siegfried Kramarsky. She announced that Hadassah will broaden the scope of its medical activities in Israel and African countries in 1964.

Discussion of Hadassah medical projects highlighted a special session of the convention in which Dr. Kalman J. Mann, director-general of the Hadassah Medical Organization in Israel, announced that a special course in nursing for African students will be opened at the Hadassah School of Nursing in Jerusalem in November. Dr. Mann said these nursing courses were part of a plan for establishing a complete nursing school for undergraduates from African and Asian countries. Dr. Mann also made known that Hadassah is prepared to assist Ethiopia in the establishment of a medical school at Addis Ababa.

Dr. Eisig Silberschlag, dean of the Boston Hebrew Teachers College, told the Hadassah delegates that “the Hebrew language is our most potent bond of understanding with Israel.” He said it was still “the most powerful guarantor of Jewish unity, of the concept of the totality of Jewry which must be preserved.” He added that “without the Hebrew language, we are a collection of weak, pseudo-religious units; with it, we are a force with endless possibilities of humanization.”

Mrs. Henry Goldman, of Jersey City, N.J., national chairman of Hadassah’s education committee, disclosed that Hadassah this year will inaugurate a special program on “Jewish values for modern living.” She said that Hadassah will provide special study materials to its membership throughout the United States, designed to foster an understanding of the significance and relevance of Jewish values.