President Zalman Shazar defended Dr. Nahum Goldmann today against the abuse heaped upon him for his advocacy of unpopular views. Addressing the opening of the second annual meeting of the Zionist Council of Israel. Mr. Shazar said that “a man who led the Zionist movement for years cannot suddenly be assailed and branded with the stigma of treason or turned into a second Uriel Acosta.” The reference was to a 17th century Jewish philosopher and religious critic who was excommunicated by the Jewish community of Amsterdam for challenging religious orthodoxy. President Shazar also expressed “shock” over the youth demonstrations against Jewish settlement in Hebron that took place here last month. The Zionist Council apparently has succeeded in bringing its own fractious youth into line. Moshe Amirav, the newly elected chairman of the Israeli Students Association told the session that after much soul-searching and discussion, the students had reached the conclusion that Zionism is the right road for Israeli youth and would give full support to the dissemination of its idea.
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