The Golden Jubilee Congress of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies concluded here last night with the adoption of a number of resolutions calling for the extension and strengthen ing of communal activities including Jewish educational services, religious and cultural life, work among the youth and coordinated communal fund-raising.
The delegates expressed support of the Jewish day school system and for the establishment of a rabbinical seminary by the projected Union of Orthodox Congregations. They also called for continuation of the United Communal Fund from which are drawn the joint budgets of the Board of Deputies, the national Orthodox and Reform education boards, certain national religious and cultural organizations, the South African OSE and ORT, and assistance for rural communities. The fund-raising resolution also provides for the allocation of a capital fund for the starting of a pension fund for Jewish teachers from the proceeds of the next campaign.
Another resolution laid stress on inter-group cooperation and the maintenance of democratic institutions in South Africa, and supported efforts to eliminate inter group conflicts and racial prejudice. During the debate on this resolution it was generally agreed that the political situation as it affects the Jews has returned to “normal” with goodwill evident between the Jewish community and all political parties and characterized by the disappearance from political life of the so-called Jewish question of the Hitler and war years.
One of the major debates at the congress developed about the role of Zionists and the Zionist movement in relation to the Board of Deputies. As a result of pre-congress lobbying and criticism of the Zionists, S.M. Kuper, chairman of the South African Zionist Federation, made a statement early in the debate that the Zionists had no intention of “capturing” the Board, but wanted it to remain a central organization fully representative of all sections of South African Jewry.
He declared that the Zionists felt duty-bound to press their viewpoint and to propose, canvass for and support for executive office candidates who they thought could usefully serve the community.
E.J. Horowitz, chairman of the Board, and other delegates pointed out that in view of the predominantly Zionist complexion of South African Jewry a majority of the deputies and the members of the executive of the Board would inevitably be Zionist. He disapproved of the idea of introducing a Zionist ticket or a semblance of a caucus in the work of the Board of Deputies.
The congress ended on a note of reconciliation of the diverse ideological trends found in the organization and a reaffirmation of its all-inclusive character.
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