News Brief

With nearly 200 delegates in attendance representing two score camps, the Order Sons of Zion devoted the first day of its twentieth annual convention to voting on certain constitutional changes and acting on the message of its Nasi. Max Perlman presented at the opening session Saturday night.

Because of a statement incorporated in the Nasi’s message, the matter of the Judea Industrial Corporation came up in an indirect manner just before adjournment of the afternoon session, when I. Posnansky, New York delegate, asked the Nasi to explain the following statement in the message pertaining to the Order’s Zionist activities: “We may be happy in the thought that it alone created an instrument for practical work in Palestine, even though, most regrettably, it no longer can boast of it.” Adjournment prevented further discussion.

The report of the Maskir, Harry A. Pine, showed that the Order had assets stalling $259,375.61 and during the past year the total membership was 3,523. He stated that during the past year the Order’s deficit was reduced by nearly $1,000, leaving it at present at $16,878.78. Mr. Pine stated that the insurance reserve fund of the Order is larger and the cooperative feeling of members more friendly.

The convention today voted a new class of social membership for those (Continued on Page 4)

who may desire to join without the insurance feature. It endorsed a proposal that wherever feasible, camps with less than fifty members effect mergers. A proposal to elect camp officers yearly instead of semi-annually was voted down, as was a proposal advanced by Dr. J. I. Steinberg of New York that past and future heads of the Order be elected life members of the Executive Board. The convention, however, unanimously elected Mr. Perlman a member of the board for the ensuing year.

It was stated that Mr. Perlman will not be a candidate for re-election. Dr. Steinberg is being mentioned as his successor.

Among those who greeted the convention were Bernard G. Richards, Executive Secretary of the American Jewish Congress, M. Tausner of the Histdruth Ivrith and M. Rybalov of the “Hadoar.”

The convention voted the same five cent per capita tax for the American Jewish Congress as last year. It also decided on the establishment of a new “advisory committee” to be comprised of one delegate from each camp and a committee to revise the Order’s constitution. It voted down a proposal calling for the construction of a national center building.