Women to Call World Congress for Palestine Work

The Women’s International Zionist Organization, at its conference here, decided to change its name to the Women’s Inter-territorial Zionist Organization in order to emphasize that its national character is unchanged. The adoption of this resolution over-rules the suggestion made previously that the Women’s International Zionist Organization he transformed simply into a Jewish Women’s Organization with no specific identification as to program. A mixed commission has been named to prepare a plan whereby non-Zionists may be brought into the movement for pro-Palestine work while the national character of the Organization will remain unaffected.

A resolution was adopted and sent to the Zionist Congress requesting that women receive a larger representation in the councils of the world Zionist movement. It was also urged that the Palestine Government grant increased facilities for the immigration into Palestine of women. The Health Council urged the Zionist Congress, now in session in Zurich, to undertake the reorganization of the health activities in Palestine. The request was made that the Congress instruct the incoming Executive to deal with this matter. This request was made in view of the negotiations now pending between the Hadassah and the Labor Sick Benefit Association of Palestine, for a complete health reorganization plan. A similar request has already been submitted to the Congress by the Hadassah and the Palestine Zionist Executive. A world congress of Jewish women for the purpose of aiding the work of rehabilitation in Palestine will be called by the Women’s International Zionist Organization, the Conference decided. The Congress will be held in all probability next year and in all likelihood in Palestine, according to Mrs. A. J. Freiman of Ottawa, Canada, who is the originator of the idea. Mrs. Freiman, who is taking a prominent part in the deliberations of the Zionist Congress, in an interview with the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency stated that she is happy that the Women’s International Zionist Organization has decided to convoke such a Congress which she is confident will be of considerable benefit to Palestine. The direct intimate contact between Jewish women the world over and Palestine cannot fail to be of immeasurable value to that country. It is of the utmost importance, she said, that the Congress be held in Palestine because of the revolutionizing influence which Palestine wields over all those who come into contact with it.

The visit, Mrs. Freiman believes, will stimulate interest in the country among the delegates who will return to their own lands imbued with an enthusiasm that can be transformed into practical (Continued on Page 8)

benefits. She stated that she hopes Canada alone will send between 500 and 600 women delegates to such a conference. She expressed the belief that it will be possible to charter a special steamer for the Canadian and American delegates.

Mrs. Freiman stated further that the Women’s Congress may be able to point out to the World Zionist Congress the advisability and practicability of holding a Congress in Palestine which will be of a non-political character. The World Women’s Congress, as she visualizes it, will be non-political and will concern itself with the task of organizing Jewish women the world over for participation in the Palestine up building work. The presence of women from various countries will, she be-lieves, establish a definite contact and bring about the assumption of a particular piece of work on the part of women’s organizations in the several countries to be represented.

Primarily, it will mean an intensification of interest and activity in Palestine upbuilding, extending beyond participation in general fund collections.

When the Women’s World Zionist Congress is held two years hence, following the constitution of the extended Jewish Agency to include non-Zionists, Mrs. Freiman declared she is confident that it will be able to count on a similar agency constituted by women representative of all groups, parties and orientations. The Jewish Agency removes Palestine from the field of party activities and makes it a cause in which all Jews alike must share. No woman who is alive to the responsibility she owes toward her people can abstain from participation in this great undertaking, she said.