(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
With 150 delegates representing 35 camps in attendance, the Order Sons of Zion, fraternal insurance order, opened its nineteenth annual convention here yesterday.
In an address before the convention, Louis Lipsky, president of the Zionist Organization of America charged that the “opposition forces” within Zionist ranks have instituted a campaign of “vilification and slander in order to bring the Zionist Organization to the confines of a corporation.”
“The present struggle,” he declared, “is with the forces we met in 1921. Their objects are the same; the personalities are the same and their methods are the same. The only difference is that at that time they presented a program but this time they are keeping quiet about it.” In 1921, he stated, Zionist officials were charged “with commingling of funds” and this charge is being reiterated this year.
“On one side,” he said, “stands the Keren Hayesod, open and free and on the other side, what looks like a corporation-a corporation which has no soul. The present controversy,” he said, “has nothing to do with persons in office Today’s officers may not be in office tomorrow, but this fight will be continued until that force in Jewish life which stands for democracy and renaissance emerges out of the conflict triumphant and victorious.”
Charging that the Judea Insurance Company is utilizing the influence of Palestine to carry on business in America, Nathan Chasen, former Nasi, urged that action be taken by the Order which founded the company. The matter was scheduled to come up later in the sessions.
An extensive report on the Bezalel Art School in Palestine which the Order is now financing was given by B. Shelvin, Executive Director. He stated that nearly $800 has been pledged toward the $3,000 the Order advanced for the project.
An individual member’s attack on the efficiency and progress of the Order, circulated among the members, was read before the convention and voted tabled.
Abraham Goldberg brought the greetings of the Histadruth Ivrith and the Jewish National Fund. Louis Weiss, chairman of the Convention Committee, Dr. J. I. Bluestone, and Sol Friedland, former Nasi, addressed the opening session.
Max Perlman, Acting Nasi, who presided, presented the annual report. The deficit of the Order was reduced by $8,000 during the past year. One new camp was organized and a small increase in membership recorded.
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.
