Declaring that the “Jewish people demands justice at the hands of the world” and “wishes to live in its own home as a free nation equal to all other nations,” 3,000 delegates attending the 23rd annual convention of the National Committee for Labor Palestine today resolved to double their financial aid to Histadruth by raising $5,000,000 during 1946-47.
Isaac Hamlin, national secretary, reported that $1,910,000 had been remitted to the Histadruth during 1945-46, an increase of $508,000 over the previous year. The funds were used by the Histadruth to strengthen its cooperative institutions, vocational training services, reception of immigrants, health and social welfare activities and defense purposes, he said. The goal of $5,000,000 is necessitated by the growth of the Histadruth program during “the critical period now gripping Palestine,” Mr. Hamlin declared.
The delegates, who came from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Cuba, Panama, the Dutch West Indies, Mexico, Venezuela and Peru hailed the “heroic members of the Haganah, “but condemned the “irresponsible acts” of the Irgun and Stern groups.
Dr. Nahum Goldmann and Joseph Baratz were the principal speakers at the official convention opening last night at Hunter College. Dr. Goldmann declared that the early establishment of a Jewish State was essential, even at the cost of sacrificing some parts of Palestine.
Mr. Baratz, senior welfare officer of the Jewish Brigade, who has lived in Palestine for 40 years, stated that the British have been defeated on three fronts during the past six months: the economic front, when they attempted to destroy Jewish settlements; the political fronts, when they arrested Jewish leaders but failed to demoralize the Yishuv; and the immigration front, as the deportations to Cyprus have not deterred Jews from leaving Europe to brave the sea in frail vessels in an effort to reach Palestine.
The convention greeted the United Jewish Appeal conference in Atlantic City, pledging full support to the UJA, while working through the Palestine Histadruth Campaign to aid specific activities of Histadruth not included in UJA.
Joseph Schlossberg was re-elected national chairman for the 13th year. Mr. Schlossberg, 72-year-old dean of the American Jewish labor movement was among the founders of the Committee for Labor Palestine in 1923.
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.
