Mizrachi Convention in Boston Closes Without Electing President

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The search for new leadership of the American Mizrachi, the Orthodox wing of the Zionist movement, did not end with the final session of the thirteenth annual convention which closed Tuesday at midnight following three days sessions at the Hotel Statler here.

Although three committees were appointed to propose a new executive, the convention ended in a deadlock, because no agreement could be reached on the choice of a candidate for president or three candidates to compose a praesidium. The question of admitting women, active in the Mizrachi organization, to the executive was also one of the obstacles. The only action taken by the convention was the appointment of Rabbi Meyer Berlin as temporary head of the organization, with authority to choose a president or praesidium in conjunction with the new administrative committee.

The officers elected by the convention were Jacob Feiner, treasurer and M. Adler, associate treasurer. The new administrative committee chosen includes Rabbi E. Inzelbuch, S. Wilner, Dr. E. Bluestone, Rabbi Nachman E. Evin. S. Goldstein, Abraham Cohn, Gedaliah Bublick, Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, B. Schnure, Rabbi Wolf Gold, Rabbi I. Levenson, retiring, president. Dr. P. Churgin, Jacob Matthews. Isaac Berman. Zevi Carp and Isaac Epstein.

The convention, after a stormy session, refused to accept a proposal to elect a praesidium of three, in spite of the repeated warning from the leaders that the failure of agreement on the choice of a candidate would hamper the progress of the Mizrachi. Rabbi M. S. Margolis was chairman of a special nominations committee. Rabbi Borochoff reporting for this committee that no agreement could be reached on a candidate, urged the selection of a praesidium of three. Gedaliah Bublick, presiding at the last session, ruled this proposal out of order.

Because of the criticism directed against the executive secretary, Rabbi J. L. Magnes, by the Mizrachi Hazair, youth organization, the convention voted to refer the election of a secretary to the administrative committee. Rabbi J. L. Magnes, the retiring secretary, announced his refusal to be a candidate.

The retiring president, Rabbi J. Levenson, declared that he will refuse to serve on the new administration when the nomination committee reported his name as an ex-officio member.

Three hours of debate followed a clash between the women and men’s organization, just as many of the delegates were about to leave for home, when a resolution to include the women in the active administration of the organization was proposed. Rabbi M. S. Margolis and Rabbi Eliezar Silver of Springfield. Mass declared their opposition to women being on the governing board. This evoked a counter protest from Rabbi Borochoff of Malden, Mass, and Rabbi Nachman Ebin of New York. The request of Rabbi Marpolis to Mrs. Goldstein to withdraw the resolution was rejected by her. The convention was in an uproar until a motion to refer the question to the incoming executive was presented.

The rabbis declined to base their opposition to the election of women to the executive on the religious law. Nevertheless, the debate on the question turned on this point. Opinion was divided on the question. A resolution to refer the question to a committee of rabbis for decision was proposed but rejected. The discussion was finally halted when the proposal to refer the question to the incoming executive was accepted by a large majority.

Rabbi Berlin in his closing address regretted the lack of unity in the ranks and urged all within the organization to assist in the work.

The Tuesday morning session was devoted to a report by Rabbi Wolf Gold on the establishment of an agricultural yeshiva in Palestine at the cost of $100,000 to be raised among the members of the organization. The Yeshiva farm will train Rabbis and Schochtim as farmers.

Rabbi. L. Fishman spoke on strengthening the organization. He praised the influence of the Mizrachi on the Zionist cause in general and paid tribute to the pioneering spirit of the Chalutzim who first set the example for self-sacrifice, inspiring the Orthodox youth to follow.

Louis Lipsky, President of the Zionist Organization of America, greeted the convention. He appealed for tolerance and unity. The forces represented by traditional Jews are essential, Mr. Lipsky said, in the work of upbuilding Palestine. He praised the labor groups in Palestine and said Zionists here sympathize with many of their ideals and the attitude of American Zionists to labor must not be taken as hostile. American Zionists harbor no enmity towards labor. “It serves no good purpose, but adds to partisan prejudice and contributes to misunderstanding,” Mr. Lipsky said, “if the Mizrachi should endeavor to make it appear that what they have a surplus of, to wit religious devotion and ideals, is entirely absent among general Zionists. Understanding and appreciation of Jewish tradition and religious principles, is also to be found in a large measure among general Zionists in America and possibly will grow.

“The United Palestine Appeal has made a fair arrangement with the Mizrachi. There should be unreserved co-operation on the part of all Mizrachi members with the United Palestine Appeal Campaigns. This co-operation in a friendly generous manner will serve to strengthen all phases of Zionist endeavor. We are approaching consummation of the Jewish Agency plan. The consideration of the problems of new partnership should be met by a united mutually trustful Zionist organization,” he declared.

Rabbi Magnes replying to the attacks of the Mizrachi Hazair assailed their attitude as unfair. He pointed out they have altogether seven groups each with a membership of less than 200 which gives them no moral right to declare war on the leadership. Rabbi Magnes charged them with lack of discipline and failure to cooperate.

Special services in commemoration of the annivesary of the birth of the late Jacob R. Schiff were held at the Schiff Center Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Dr. Joseph Silverman. Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Emanu-El, delivered the sermon on Friday and Dr. Samuel Schulman of Temple Emanu-El spoke at the Saturday morning services.

A campaign for $100,000 to enlarge the facilities of the Center was insugurated at a banquet held Saturday evening at the Center. Judge Irving Lehman of the Court of Appeals, president of the Jewish Welfare Board, was the principal speaker at the dinner. Judge Albert Cohn. Commissioner Albert Goldman and Max D. Steuer were among the speakers.