(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The National Assembly of Palestine Jewry, provided for in the Palestine Communities Ordinance which grants Palestine Jews internal autonomy and representative institutions, is to be composed of 71 members, according to a decision of the Vaad Leumi, the National Council of Palestine Jews. Franchise is to be granted to men and women alike above the age of 18; men and women are to be eligible for office at the age of 25.
The granting of the franchise to women was the bone of contention between the ultra-Orthodox group in Jerusalem and the other sections of the Jewish population grouped around the Zionist Vaad Leumi. The ultra-Orthodox threatened to avail themselves of the right granted to them in the Communities Ordinance to create separate organizations in case women would be granted the right to vote.
The Vaad Leumi has also accepted the proposal made by the Mizrachi, the organization of Orthodox Zionists, with regard to the procedure in the election of the Palestine Chief Rabbinate and its council. This question, too, was one on which opinions were sharply divided and which was one of the causes of dissention. The ultra-Orthodox expressed their fear that the lay elements of Palestine Jewry, less interested in religious matters, would be given too much control over the election of the spiritual leaders.
The Mizrachi, therefore, proposed that the assembly which is to be charged with the election of the Chief Rabbinate and its council be composed of 51 percent rabbis and 49 percent laymen. This proposal was accepted by the Vaad Leumi.
David A. Brown, national chairman of the United Jewish Campaign, will dellver the principal address at the tenth anniversary celebration of “The Jewish Forum” on Sunday evening, March 25th at Mecca Temple.
The Arrangements Committee Executive consists of Judge William Blau. Chairman; Congressman Sol Bloom, Commissioner Albert Goldman and Manrice H. Katz, Vice-Chairman; Joseph H. Herbst, Treasurer; and A. A. Redelhetm, Secretary.
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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.
