A nation-wide shekel campaign, which is to provide the basis for a large electorate for the next World Zionist Congress to be held in Carlsbad, Czechoslovakia, in August, was decided upon at a meeting on Sunday of the Administrative Committee of the Zionist Organization of America, at which Morris Rothenberg, president, was the chairman.
The meeting, which was attended by members from New York and various other cities, also took action upon the procedure for the election of American delegates to the forthcoming World Congress. It was decided to call a larger conference within the next three weeks, at which details of participation, methods of election, and campaign procedure would be determined. The forthcoming conference will also serve to work out the program for the shekel campaign. The general opinion was expressed by members of the Administrative Committee that it is essential for Americans to have a large delegation at the Carlsbad Congress. This can be obtained through regular Zionist membership and through shekel-payments, which entitle all Jews to have a voice in the selection of American representatives to the international Zionist congress.
The meeting was opened by Mr. Rothenberg with a review of the current Zionist political situation, as it is reflected in London and Jerusalem. He then followed with a report of the recent conference of the Commission on Youth and Education, stating that the results thus far as to the distinguished personnel and their earnestness have proved gratifying and expressing the hope that the Commission would be able to present its first report to the next annual Zionist convention. Mr. Rothenberg’s report was favorably acted upon by the Administrative Committee.
Morris Margulies, Secretary of the Zionist Organization, reported that an intensive effort to increase the membership of the Organization is being combined with various cultural efforts. Particular emphasis is being placed on renewing the enrollment of thousands of individuals who have, for various reasons, been lost to the Zionist movement during the past three years. It was pointed out that if America is to have an adequate voice at the forthcoming Congress, it will be necessary to have a maximum membership in 1933. Mr. Margulies reported that there have been more Zionist meetings held throughout the country than during many years previous.
During the discussion of the Congress election procedure, the view was expressed that there should be a united front, which would enable the Zionist Organization and the Hadassah to come to Carlsbad with a common program of American aims. Among those who took part in the discussion were Louis Lipsky, Abraham Goldberg, Robert Szold, Jacob de Haas, Dr. S. Wurzel, Abraham Tulin, Charles Cowen, Robert Silverman, Abraham Spicehandler, J. Rudavsky, Rabbi M. Bloom, Dr. Louis I. Newman, Leo Wolfson, Mrs. Rose Halprin, Mrs. Rebecca Safer, Henry Yozell.
The Administration was given the authority to set aside a period for the shekel campaign.
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