U.S. Interest in Israel Discussed at American Mizrachi Convention

The ” sympathetic interest ” of the United States in the economic stability of Israel is no longer based on ” political pressures and influences, real or imagined, ” but on enlightened self-interest on the part of the government of both countries, Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, executive vice-chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, declared here today at the convention of the American Mizrachi Organization. At the same time, he emphasized Israel’s need in ” free dollars ” which the Jewish state gets through the United Jewish Appeal.

Mendel Fisher, executive director of the Jewish National Fund, told the delegates that a forest named after the late President Weizmann will be planted by the J.N.F. in Israel as a permanent memorial. He revealed that spontaneous gifts have already been received for this project from admirers of Dr. Weizmann and that no campaign for funds will be conducted. ” We are convinced,” he said, ” that when a public announcement of the plan is made a very large number of unsolicited gifts are certain to come in spontaneously from Jews and non-Jews desiring to honor Dr. Weizmann.”

Rabbi Max Kirshblum, executive vice-president of the American Mizrachi Organization, told the delegates that the split between the Mizrachi and its labor group, Hapoel Hamizrachi, imperils the world Orthodox Zionist movement. He expressed grave doubts on the possibility of re-establishing ” real unity ” between the two wings of the Mizrachi movement.