The answer of the Jews of America to the violent efforts to destroy Jewish constructive achievements in Palestine ought to be the enrollment of a vast array of Jewish men and women, whose very numbers will constitute a affirmation by American Jewry of its determination to proceed with the rebuilding of Palestine as the Jewish National Homeland. This was the decision taken at an extraordinary meeting of the National Executive Committee, held Sunday, at the Hotel Astor, New York, at which Rabbi James G. Heller, of Cincinnati, Chairman of the Executive Committee, presided.
It was understood that what was intended was not the regular membership enrollment of the Z. O. A., but the creation of a great source of energy which could stimulate public opinion toward favorable action for Palestine reconstruction.
The plan for the enrollment of 250,000 Jews is considered as an emergency measure. Every one who signs the “roll call” will pay a fee of $2.00 which sum will include the Shekel, membership fee in the World Zionist Organization. An answer to the “roll call” will also include an affirmation of faith in the Basle program and an endorsement of the purposes of the Balfour Declaration. The aim of this action is not financial income but merely the building up of a body of men and women in America who can be counted on to lend support and prestige to whatever action may be inaugurated by the Zionist Organization of America to make more secure the rebuilding of Palestine.
A number of nationally prominent Jews will make whirlwind tours from coast to coast: prominent local speakers will tour their regions; thousands of volunteers will be recruited to go from house to house, from office to office to secure the enrollment. The political effectiveness of this gesture and its necessity will be emphasized.
The “roll call” campaign will be inaugurated at once and will stop on January 1, 1930, by which time it is expected the goal of 250,000 will have been reached.
One of the actions of this program was the proposal that a so-called “roll call” be taken, whose purpose will be to make an active supporter of the Zionist movement every one who has hitherto passively sympathized but who has not been given the proper opportunity to affiliate with the Organization.
The principal speech in favor of the adoption of the “roll call” idea was delivered by Louis Lipsky. President of the Zionist Organization of America, who declared that “American Jews are anxious to show in concrete form their confidence in the Jewish future in Palestine. The hundreds of thousands of Jews who will be brought closer to the spirit and work of the Zionist movement in this country will serve as the nucleus for a great regenerative force.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
