Palestine Mandate Society Entertains South African Friend of Zionism

Sir George Mac-Donough presided at a reception last night tendered by the Palestine Mandates Society to Jan Hofmyer, administrator of Transvaal, who arrived here on a visit. Mr. Hofmyer stopped in Palestine on his way from South Africa.

Practically every prominent citizen in South Africa signed the Pro-Palestine manifesto, which he was responsible for issuing, declared Mr. Hofmyer. Describing his impressions of his recent Palestine visit, the Transvaal administrator praised the development of Tel Aviv. He was amazed at the advancement in the Hebrew language notwithstanding the many difficulties. He regards the establishment of the Jewish National Home as assured and sees in Palestine the rebirth of the Jewish people.

In welcoming Mr. Hofmyer, who was a founder of the Palestine Mandates Society in South Africa, Viscount Cecil said that he first became interested in Zionism during the war when Dr. Chaim Weizmann visited the foreign office. He was remarkably impressed, virtually swept off his feet, he said, and became convinced that Zionism was one of the few good things evolved in the terrible slaughter of the war. Viscount Cecil declared that he will continue to support the Zionist cause.

Besides the chairman, Sir Wyndham Deedes was another speaker.

“What you’ve done, and you’ve done it modestly and unselfishly, perhaps even you don’t realize. Had you not manifested the interest you have in your projects, such as immigration aid and helping maladjusted girls, greater burdens would have been visited on the taxpayers of the city,” said Mayor Walker addressing the annual luncheon of the New York section of the National Council of Jewish Women at the Hotel Astor, Monday.

Mrs. Nathan Straus, president, outlined the outstanding achievement of the New York section as the recent completion of the new Council House in the Bronx. In the first six weeks of its occupancy, she said, 339 adults and 142 children enrolled for membership in club activities. With the land and equipment, the building has cost $220,000 and a mortgage of $60,000 had to be taken. The cost of maintenance, she added, has been computed at about $50,000 for the first year.

All told, the council has spent $63,000 in the past year on its various activities, she went on.

Mrs. Henry Moskowitz explained the various activities of the council.

Mrs. Straus was re-elected with the entire official ticket, which included: Mrs. Alexander Kohut and Mrs. William Sporborg, Honorary Presidents, and Mrs. Henry L. Bernheim, Mrs. Samuel H. Bijur, Mrs. Henry S. Hendricks and Mrs. Leo Sulzberger. Vice-Presidents.

The newly organized Joseph H. Ullman Chapter, A. Z. A. No. 110 of New Haven, Conn., was officially instituted at the Y. M. & Y. W. H. A. Sunday. May 5th by Wilfred B. Feiga of Worcester. District No. 1 member of the Supreme Advisory Committee; William Horowitz, Kansas City, and at present a senior at Yale, the first Aleph S’gan of the Order and Charles Shane of Hartford, the first Grand Aleph Godol of the Order.

This is the second chapter to be organized in the state of Connecticut. It is sponsored by Horeb Lodge No. 25, I.O.B.B. Henry Calechman, Jacob Mirviss and Abraham S. Ullman compose the Advisory Committee.