I. O. B. B. Widens Scope of Lodges in Palestine

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Lodges of the Independent Order B’nai Brith, the American Jewish fraternal order, will be opened in the Jewish colonies in Palestine soon.

A decision to widen the scope of the activities of the Order in Palestine was taken by the Central Palestine Lodge. The colonies where new lodges are to be opened are Rishon L’Zion, Petach Tikvah and Rehoboth. The Palestine Lodge also decided to assume jurisdiction over the Syrian lodges.

During the recent meeting of the Grand Lodge for Great Britain and Ireland, where Alfred M. Cohen, president of the Independent Order B’nai Brith installed the officers, it was announced that $5,000 had been raised as the nucleus of a foundation fund for the establishment in London of a Jewish Communal Hall.

Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: S. Rowson, Grand President; Joseph A. Hamwee and M. Gordon Liverman. J. P., Grand Vice-Presidents; Dr. Samuel Daiches, Grand Treasurer; S. Abouhab, Salis Daiches, S. Gilbert, S. Greenman, H. Morris, H. M. Simans and Mrs. M. Epstein, Executive Committee; J. H. Taylor. Grand Secretary. Mrs. Epstein was elected to the Executive Committee as representing the Ladies’ Lodge of London of which she was the first president.

At the dinner held at Hyde Park Hotel in honor of Mr. Cohen, there were present Haham Dr. Gaster, Drs. J. Snowman, S. Daiches, M. Epstein, and I. Jochelman, Professor Sobernheim of Berlin and Dr. Louis Mann, of Sinai Temple, Chicago.

S. Gilbert, President of the First Lodge of England, presided.

In his address Mr. Cohen stated that the Order, which was organized 83 years ago, and had up to very recently confined itself mainly to palliative relief work such as the organization of hospitals, libraries, homes for the aged, orphan asylums, has now entered on constructive work, of which the most important was the founding of the Hillel Foundation.

Rabbi Mann made a plea for Jewish unity. He said there ought to be no distinction between Orthodox, Liberal and Reform Jews. “All Jews are Jews. That is the most significant thing and labels are of no consequence.” he said.

SUGGESTS JEWISH FEDERATION OF FEDERATIONS IN U.S

A suggestion which aims at giving practical effect to the conclusions outlined by Felix M. Warburg in his report on conditions in Russia, Poland and in Palestine, was presented by Morris E. Gossett, prominent lawyer and real estate operator in New York.

Mr. Gossett, in commenting upon Mr. Warburg’s report in a statement to the “Jewish Daily Bulletin” formulated the idea that it is time for American Jews to put into effect the desire for harmonious action and unity among Jewish welfare organizations by launching an effort which would be all-embracing and would take care of Jewish needs in Russia, Poland and Palestine.

“There should be an end to the many national campaigns involving tremendous expenditures for money raising and for maintenance of machines and publicity apparatus,” Mr. Gossett said.

“As the Jewish Agency has brought about unity in American Jewry with regard to the necessity of aiding the development of Palestine, I do not see any reason why the policy of separate campaigns should be continued. I see in the proposal which has been brought forward recently in Germany of establishing a federation of federations, the most advisable, economical measure for obtaining the funds for national and foreign Jewish purposes. In such as effort the machinery of the local federations could be utilized.

“In fact, I wonder if the most desirable procedure would not be to include in the sums of money which are raised by the local federations, also a share for national and foreign purposes and to have in every community only one campaign including the local and other Jewish causes which have been adjudged to be worthwhile.

“I do not believe that American Jews will ever become callous to the fate of their brethren in Europe or to the cause of Palestine. I do not hesitate to say that if these funds would have to be raised by increasing the budget for local purposes ten or fifteen per cent in order to make provision for the national and foreign purposes it could easily be accomplished and such as cause would be more unselfish, generous, broad-minded than if the Jewish efforts were entirely limited to local needs. The carrying through of this proposal would definitely do away with the unnecessary and expensive money raising of the numerous causes, certainly saving the Jewish community several millions of dollars.

“I look to the leaders of the United Jewish Campaign to call a conference together with the leaders of the United Palestine Appeal and other national and foreign bodies, as well as the leaders of the American Jewish community in order to take steps for a united and combined effort of all Jewish forces in our country,” concluded Mrs. Gossett.

Directors of the Brooklyn Hebrew Maternity Hospital adopted plans for a new sixty-bed institution to the hospital.

It is estimated that the cost of construction, including equipment for the new building, will be approximately $300,000.