Rights of Jews to Jewish Holy Places in Palestine Are Not Safeguarded, Orthodox Zionists Charge

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The views of the Orthodox wing of the Zionist movement on the present situation in Palestine, the relation to the mandatory power and on certain problems of Jewish life in America were recorded in a series of resolutions adopted at the closing sessions of the twelfth annual convention of the Mizrachi Zionist Organization of America held at the Jewish Community Center here.

The strongest note sounded in these resolutions was a protest against the Palestine government for its attitude toward the Jewish Holy Places in Palestine, adopted following reports on recent developments in connection with this matter.

DEMAND RECOGNITION OF JEWISH RIGHTS TO HOLY PLACES

“The convention expresses its surprise and indignation at the attitude of the Palestine administration toward our Holy Places, such as the Wailing Wall and Rachel’s Tomb. The convention urges the Executive Committee to make the necessary representations with a view to securing for Jewry full right of access to the Jewish Holy Places,” the resolution read.

The traditional clement in the Zionist movement also went on record as being dissatisfied with the present policy of the Mandatory power in Palestine. This sentiment was expressed in the following resolution:

“The convention expresses its deep regret at the fact that the mandatory power in Palestine has not yet fully realized its cardinal obligations with regard to the upbuilding of our national home in Palestine. The convention expresses its hope that the leadership of the Zionist movement will succeed in persuading the mandatory power to do its duty toward the Jewish resettlement of Palestine and that our rights there should be secured in accordance with the spirit and letter of the Palestine mandate.”

The Executive of the World Zionist Organization, of which the Mizrachi is a constituent, was also held up for criticism, particularly due to the failure of the middle class elements in the Tel Aviv immigration, commonly known as the Fourth Alijah, to take root in the country.

The Executive was urged to take steps to prepare the way for this element which, it was declared, is “knocking at the door of Palestine and must enter.”

A stormy debate developed at the evening session, held under the chairmanship of A. L. Gelman of St. Louis, when a resolution criticizing the leadership of the Zionist movement was brought before the convention by Rabbi Ashinsky, chairman of the Resolutions Committee. The Resolution which was tabled because it was found too weak reads:

“The Mizrachi Convention, although willing to support the United Palestine Appeal in the future, expresses deep regret at the failure of the Fourth Alijah which was the hope of religious Jewry. The main reason for the failure is probably the regrettable situation in the Diaspora countries, but the Zionist Organization is not entirely free of blame because it did not pay enough attention to the element called the Fourth Alijah.”

This resolution called forth protest among the delegates. Mr. Gerstenkorn, head of the B’nai Brack Colony and Rabbi Meyer Berlin emphasized that the part of the resolution criticizing the Zionist Organization is not sufficiently strong.

RESOLUTION CRITICIZES Z. O.

“Our duty as Zionists is to say to the Zionist Organization, prepare for the accommodation of the middle class which now knocks at Palestine’s doors and must enter there,” Rabbi Berlin stated. The resolution was substituted by one proposed by the Rabbi which was adopted. This resolution read: “Considering the situation of the socalled Fourth Alijah in Palestine, the Convention expresses regret that the movement which could open a new path for the Jewish masses of the Diaspora to Palestine has not been fully realized and not entirely successful, resulting in the crisis in Palestine. The convention emphasizes the regretful fact that the Zionist leadership, which was not prepared with sufficient means and sufficient understanding of the importance of the Fourth Alijah had a part in its failure which led to the present regrettable condition. The convention expresses the hope that those who were compelled to leave our land will find an opportunity to return. We demand that the Zionist leadership undertake every means possible to enact a new immigration of the middle class element.”

REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR KEREN HAYESOD

Another resolution urging traditional Jews to support the United Palestine Appeal was adopted.

“The convention affirms the agreement of the American Mizrachi with the United Palestine Appeal. We appeal to every Jew in America to whom Eretz Israel is dear to support the United Palestine Appeal which includes all funds financing the up-building of Palestine, including Mizrachi work to create a religious basis for the new life. Taking into consideration that the solving of the difficulties created through the crisis and the promise of a new great immigration into Palestine depends upon the success of the campaign, the convention urges every Mizrachi branch and leader in America to work devotedly and energetically for the success of the Appeal.” The convention also adopted a resolution appealing to American Jewry to increase the income of the Keren Kayemeth in connection with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the fund which is celebrated this year.

A recommendation to American Jewry to invest private capital in Palestine was contained in a resolution declaring that “the convention considers it the holy duty of every Jew to buy property in Palestine and to invest in Palestine productions and enterprises, such as building houses and establishing industries in order to create work for those who make Palestine their home.”

A resolution on the Chalutzim stated: “The convention congratulates the Chalutz movement among the traditional Jewry.” Satisfaction with the religious work in Palestine found expression in the following resolution: “The Convention expresses great satisfaction over the steps made in the work of strengthening religion in Palestine by the fact that the Central World Bureau was enabled through the religious budget appropriated at the last Zionist Congress to increase the number of rabbis and schochtim in most of the colonies. At the same time the convention expresses the wish that this budget be increased.”