Overriding strong opposition from American and other overseas delegates, the 28th World Zionist Congress adopted a resolution today requiring anyone who wants to hold office within the Zionist Movement to give his children a “Zionist and Jewish education” in preparation for immigration to Israel and also declaring that “a Zionist fulfills his Zionism by aliya to Israel.” The vote was 200-136, with Labor, Mizrachi, Herut and Mapam in favor and the entire American Hadassah bloc opposed.
The resolution was brought to the floor with the recommendation of the Congress’ Committee on Education and Culture. A dissenting resolution backed by General Zionist and Hadassah committee members was defeated by a vote of 168-114.
The resolution states that “No Zionist who fails to impart a Jewish and Zionist education to his children can serve in any office in the Zionist Movement.” It was backed by the Labor faction at the initiative of its younger members. Mrs. Charlotte Jacobson of the World Confederation of General Zionists, a past president of Hadassah and a member of the WZO Executive in the US, declared that the resolution was unconstitutional in her view because it imposed sanctions on members of a voluntary body.
Louis Pincus, WZO Executive chairman and Congress President, replied that the Congress would adopt the resolution and leave it up to the lawyers to pronounce on its constitutionality, Thus, for the moment, Zionist leaders are obliged to send their children to Zionist schools. Observers here said whether or not they will obey is another matter. A resolution spelling out the WZO’s relationship to other international Jewish bodies was unanimously adopted today. It instructs the incoming Zionist Executive to seek closer coordination and cooperation with internationally active Jewish bodies “in every sphere of Zionist interest.”
Mrs. Jacobson told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency: “Our (Hadassah’s) aliya record is as good as that of any bloc in this hall, but putting it in the rules is no way of encouraging aliya.” Mrs. Faye Schenk, Hadassah national president, argued against the proposal in the debate. Arguing for it was Jean Simon, a 24-year-old Laborite student from Paris.
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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.
