Z. O. A. Leaders Report on Zionist Congress Deliberations in Israel

Two leaders of American Zionism who recently returned from the sessions of the 26th World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem emphasized that the outcome of the Congress confirmed that the future of world Zionism and the cultural survival of the Jewish people as a whole is dependent on a strong American Zionist movement. They addressed a special Congress report rally held last night at the Statler Hilton Hotel sponsored by the Zionist Organization of America and attended by Zionist representatives and key workers from the entire metropolitan area.

The speakers were Jacques Torczyner, chairman of the National Executive Council of the ZOA and a member of the presidium of the World Zionist Actions Committee, and Rabbi Irving Miller, former president of the ZOA. The ZOA was represented at the Congress by 65 delegates and deputy delegates.

In his address Mr. Torcayner defended the Congress against the charge of “multiplicity of speeches,” declaring that “the World Zionist Congress which meets once in four years is the only forum where Jews from throughout the world can air their problems.” He stressed that “the years ahead will determine the future of the Zionist movement and that only a united and strong American Zionist movement can insure a viable future for world Zionism.”

Rabbi Miller in his address, said: “World Jewry, for its own sake, must not expect Israel to stand alone just as Israel must not expect to survive alone. It should be amply clear by now that without the moral and material support of the Jewish people Israel’s future will still be precarious. While all Jews, Zionists and non-Zionists alike, support Israel it is the role of the experienced and dedicated Zionists to be the vanguard to set the pace and provide the initiative.”