Mizrachi to Hold World Conference; Budget Has Grown, Leaders Declare

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

A world conference of the Mizrachi will be held within the next few months. The place of the conference has not yet been decided. This announcement was made by Rabbi Berlin and Rabbi Fishman, leaders of the Mizrachi Organization and members of the recent Mizrachi delegation to America, at a press conference held here.

Rabbi Fishman spoke on the question of the Jewish Agency and the position of Zionism abroad. There is a wide field for Mizrachi activities everywhere, he said. A Mizrachi Organization has been established in Canada. Considerable interest is being shown by world Jewry in “Knesseth Israel” (the Jewish Communal Organization in Palestine).

Replying to a question, Rabbi Fishman emphatically denied the reports that Chief Rabbi Kook is favoring the separatist movement. Chief Rabbi Kook, is favoring the separatist movement. Chief Rabbi Kook, he said, had never called upon anybody to leave the “Knesseth Israel,” although he opposed women’s franchise, provided for in the Constitution of the Knesseth.

Rabbi Meyer Berlin said that the special “Mizrachi Palestine Fund” became necessary after the Basle Congress cut the budget of the Mizrachi to a large extent. The Fund is not intended to compete with other Zionist Funds, but the pete with other Zionist Funds, but the leaders of the United Palestine Appeal in American were, nevertheless, afraid that the Mizrachi Fund would harm their campaign. They therefore made an agreement with the heads of the Mizrachi in the United States before the arrival of the delegation there, for the inclusion of the Mizrachi Fund within the United Palestine Campaign. By virtue of this agreement, the Mizrachi obtains ten per cent. of the United Palestine Campaign’s funds. No separate Mizrachi drive is being conducted.

Meanwhile the Mizrachi budget has increased. The special Mizrachi expenses on education amount to £8,000 this year. The expenses in other branches of the Mizrachi’s work have also increased. The Mizrachi is likewise bearing part of the expenses of the “Hapoel Hamizrachi” colonization on the land of Sheikh Abrek, in the Valley of Jezreel. The Yeshiva ‘Naziv” at Neve Jacob and the Agricultural Yeshiva will be opened in accordance with the decisions which have been adopted. The “Olim Bonim” Co-operative Building Society is doing good work and enjoys the confidence of the public at large. All these activities require large funds, for which a special drive will be launched in Europe next summer. The Mizrachi Fund campaign in Palestine is already proceeding satisfactorily.

Rabbi Berlin stated that the Mizrachi Bank is developing well.