In the presence of 260 delegates and more than 1,000 guests, the twenty-fourth convention of the Canadian Zionists opened here today at the Royal York Hotel.
A. W. Roebuck, Attorney General of Ontario, greeted the delegates in the name of the Provincial Government in the absence of the Prime Minister. “I am looked upon as the representative of the Jews in the government, representing the largest Jewish constituency in the Dominion,” he said. “I hope that the economic conditions of Canada will improve to such an extent that the gates of this country will be opened to become a mecca for all the oppressed people of the world.”
James Simpson, Socialist mayor of Toronto, greeted the convention, recalling that as Canada’s representative at the last conference in Geneva, he had moved to exclude the Nazi delegates.
A. J. Friman, president of the Canadian Zionist organization, in a lengthy address emphasized the need for a Canadian Zionist roll call, similar to the one being conducted in the United States. He called attention to the fact that while ninety-five per cent of Canadian Jews are Zionists, they are so only through contributions to Zionist funds.
In 1934 the income of the Canadian Zionist group was tripled by comparison with 1932, Mr. Freiman stated. Canadian Zionists raised $140,000 during the year, he said.
The report of the treasurer showed that Canadian Zionists had purchased land worth $1,000,000 in the Wadi Hawarith in Palestine, and had already paid in more than $500,000 of the total cost.
Owing to the serious illness of Mrs. A. J. Freiman, she was unable to open the convention of Canadian Hadassah, which she heads. A movement is on foot to postpone the Hadassah convention till June.
Greetings were received from M. M. Ussishkin, president of the Jewish National Fund, Arthur Hantke and Leib Yaffe.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
