Hadassah Opens 51st National Convention; 2,500 Delegates Attend

Hadassan will launch next month “a systematic, continuing program of Jewish Education” for its 318,000 members to help strengthen American Jewish life, Mrs. Mortimer Jacbson, Hadassah president, announced today at the opening session here of the 51st annual national convention of the Women’s Zionist Organization of America.

Mrs. Jacobson told the 2,500 delegates from all parts of the United States and Puerto Rico that the program will include Bible study, Bible study tours of Israel, courses in Jewish and Zionist history, sponsorship of research projects on Jewish problems and special guidance to Hadassah chapters for the courses they undertake. She said that Hadassah would seek to enroll every member in the education program.

Mrs. Jacobson also called on American Jewish and Zionist organizations to undertake joint action on issues affecting all Jews, particularly the problem of the denial of cultural and religious freedoms to the 3,000,000 Jews of Soviet Russia. She pledged that Hadassah would continue “to participate in full measure in the protests of the Jewish people against the discriminatory policy of the Soviet Union toward its nationals.”

The delegates heard a message from President Johnson, praising Hadassah for “helping to protect our democratic heritage and institutions.” He added that “it is especially heartening for me at this time to applaud your unstinting support and dedication to the United Nations, and your enthusiastic endorsement of its activities.” Another message of warm greeting was read from President Zalman Shazar, of Israel.

$10,850,130 RAISED IN LAST FISCAL YEAR; LARGEST SHARE SPENT IN ISRAEL

Mrs. Max Schenck, Hadassah treasurer, told the convention that the organization raised $10,850,130 for its Israeli and American programs during the past 12 months. She reported that, of this sum, $8,608,981 was raised for Hadassah’s medical, child rehabilitation, vocational education and land redemption programs in Israel.

She reported also that Hadassah’s budget for the past fiscal year, July 1, 1964 to June 30, 1965, was $9,840,000 and that, of this sum, $8,340,000 was earmarked for Hadassah projects in Israel.

Other speakers at the convention’s session, tonight, were Ambassador Michael S. Comay, Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations, and Harlan Cleveland, newly-named U.S. Ambassador to NATO. A highlight of tonight’s session was the presentation to Hadassah of a special citation from President William V.S. Tubman, of Liberia, “in recognition of all that Hadassah has done to help promote the health and welfare of the people of Liberia in the establishment of ophthalmologic and psychiatric services” to that nation. The citation was presented to Mrs. Jacobson by Martinus Johnson, charge d’affaires of the Liberian Misson to the United Nations.