Zionist Membership in Reich Rises to 25,000

Striking evidence of the growth of the Zionist movement in Germany in the past three years was presented in the report of the German Zionist Federation. It disclosed that at the end of 1935, the total number of affiliated members was 25,000 as compared to 15,000 at the end of 1932. The report points out that this is not an entirely just estimate, as out of the 10,000 members at the end of 1932, 7,000 have, according to the Federation’s estimate, proceeded to Palestine.

How strong a footing the Zionist movement has gained among the German Jews is shown by the results of the shekel drive for 1935, which accounted for the sale of 57,202 sheks. On the basis of the sale of one shekel per family, about one-third of the total Jewish population of Germany belong to the Zionist movement.

During the three years since the last conference of the Zionist Federation, the number of its provincial branches has doubled and there are now 135 local branches, 75 workers’ communities and 100 auxiliary points.

The Palestine Office of the Jewish Agency for Palestine has, according to the report, distributed 6,870 labor certificates between April 1, 1933, and March 31, 1936. These included certificates for 1,199 girls and 461 certificates for men between the ages of thirty-six and forty-five.

Remarkable progress has attended the activities of the Hechalutz in Germany. According to the report, the membership of the Hechalutz has increased from 502 chalutzim and six branches in April, 1933, to approximately 15,000 chalutzim and 138 branches in December, 1935.

The present position of the Hachsharah shows that forty-five per cent of all the chalutzim have already completed one and a half years of training, twenty-five per cent one year, and thirty percent less than one year. Forty per cent of the chalutzim work in the Hachsharah co-operative centres, and thirty per cent in agricultural training centres chiefly abroad.