Holy Land Workers’ Unions Show a Rapid Development

The Histadruth Haovdim, Central Labor Federation of Palestine and all its affiliates are now completely self-supporting, Zalman Rubashow, associate editor of Davar, Hebrew daily, and delegate of the Histadruth to the United States, where he will spend the next seven months, yesterday told the Jewish Daily Bulletin.

“Palestine Jewish working-class organizations are now completely independent economically,” he declared. “We are now a going concern and can stand on our own feet.

“This is best exemplified by my own paper, Davar. For the last few years the paper has not received one cent in subventions from outside organizations. During this time we have increased our plant and equipment and extended our activities, but despite this heavy burden, the support Davar receives from its readers is sufficient to pay our way.

STRENGTH GROWS ANNUALLY

“The same thing is true of all our organizations, whether they are in the economic, political or cultural field.

“At the same time the Histadruth has grown from year to year in membership and in strength and its importance in Palestine Jewish life is constantly increasing.

“Despite the campaign of its opponents designed to annihilate the Histadruth, membership has gone up consistently, until 60,000 Jewish workers in Palestine are now in our ranks.

“The Histadruth has been recognized by the employers’ associations as the representative of the Palestine Jewish workers and contracts have been signed with all the employers’ groups, save the one led by Moishe Smilansky.

REVISIONISTS STAND ALOOF

“But most important of all, the Histadruth has displayed the ability to draw into its own ranks not only all Socialist Zionist elements, but all shades of political opinion, with the exception of the Revisionists.

“In the Histadruth today we have groups adhering to the General Zionists and unattached religious elements. An understanding has even been reached with the Mizrachi on working conditions and participation in the work of the Histadruth.”

Mr. Rubashow waxed enthusiastic about the work done for the German Jewish immigrants, calling the accomplishments of the Histadruth in this field “momentous” and “historic” and “work that history will certainly dwell upon.”

“It is for that purpose that I am here,” he declared. “For while the established Palestine workers can now rely on their own resources, the mass immigration into Palestine, particularly the German Jewish refugees, has created a new type of problem for the workers’ organization.

“For this work we need money, to settle the immigrants in Palestine and, particularly, to keep a healthy proportion between the village and the town. To see to it that the Jewish worker is enabled to earn his living in agriculture as well as in the towns. To create a sound Jewish economy in Palestine, that is what we need money for.”

This is the third time the editor of Davar has come to the United States as a delegate of the Histadruth. He was here previously in 1927 and again in 1931.

In addition to his work on Davar, Mr. Rubashow is vice-president of the actions committee of the World Zionist Organization, one of the founders and leaders of the Histadruth and an active member of the Vaad Leumi, the Jewish National Council of Palestine.

After attending the tenth anniversary convention of the National Labor Committee for Palestine, which will be held at the Hotel Pennsylvania November 30 and December 1 and 2, he will tour the United States.

Mr. Rubashow is also a scholar of note, particularly in the field of Messianic episodes in Jewish history. He is the author of a notable work on the subject and is now engaged in writing a book on Sabbatai Zvi.