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JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Chanuka, Friday, December 16, 1960
25th WORLD ZIONIST CONGRESS OPENS IN JERUSALEM DEC 27
Zionisf Congress agenda published
JERUSALEM—The executive of the World Zionist Organization has agreed upon the agenda for the forthcoming 25th World Zionist Congress. Participating in the Congress will be 600 delegates and 100 representatives of Jewish organizations which
have accepted the invitation of the World Zionist executive to take part in the Congress.
On the opening night, December 27, the principal address will be delivered by the president of the World Zionist Organization, Dr. Nahum Goldmann. At this session, the Congress will be greeted by Israel President, Ben-Zvi, Premier Ben-Gurion, Chief Rabbi Nissim, and the Mayor of Jerusalem. On December 28, the Congress will elect the Presidium and the Steering Committee, and the general debate will be introduced.
On December 30, addresses by miembers of the executive will begin, and on January 1, one session will be devoted to the delegations from the affiliated Jewish non-Zionist organi-
Broadening Zionist Base Is Vital, Says
Goldmann
DR. N. GOLDMANN
The conviction that the World Zionist Movement would only continue to be a vital factoi: in zations. On January 3, conmiit- the well-being of Israel and the tees will b^ chosen and will hold Diaspora by broadening its representation to include all major
their sessions until the end of the Congress.
JERUSALEM
ter David
non-Zionist groups, was the central theme of Dr. Goldmann's message to the recent 35th Biennial Convention of the Zionist Organization of Canada.
The World Zionist Organiza-Prime Minis- tion president warned of two Ben-Gurion agreed "fatal illusions — that Israel
B€ mil Address The Jerusalem Conterenee
last week, after a meeting with was safe and secure,; and that Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president Jewish survival was :assured in of the World Zionist Organiza- the Diaspora." He reminded the tion, that he will address the Convention that, aside from its opening meeting of the World military security problem, Is-Zionist Congress here on the rael had not yet achieved econo-night of December 27 without mic stability. Looking at com-attacking Zionism. Mr. Ben- munities outside Israel, he noted Gurion will speak on Jewish that many were marked by in-, immigration to Israel, on Heb- tellectual passiveness and a lack rew education in lands outside of social creativity. On this last Israel, and on the future of Zi- point Dr Goldmann said: onism. He will appear as the "You have to offer to the leader of the government. young generation new chal-Mrs, Golda Meir, Israel's for- lenges — anti-semitism is' no eign minister, and finance min- longer a challenge to young ister Levi Eshkol, will speak on Jews. You have to give them the second day, Am6ng other positive challenges — it is principal speakers will be Am- uniqueness of our destiny that erican members of the Jewish tne main challenge today can Agency executive, Mrs. Rose be Israel."
Halprin, Dr. Emanuel Neumann, Goldmann said that the
Rabbi Mordecai Kirshblum, and main task of the Zionist Move-Louis Segal. ment must be to unite the large Election of a new World Zi- majority of the Jewish people onist executive will be held dur- who are not Zionists, but never-ing the middle of the Congress, theless, are in complete soli-instead of at the conclusion of darity with the Jewish State, the parley, it was announced to- are proud of its achievements day by Zvi Lourie, head of the and "because of what Israel has agency's organization depart- achieved, they want to help Is-ment. rael to-become stronger and to
he noted that the December Congress in Jerusalem will, for the first time, have representatives from all ten major world Jewish organizations.
He noted that even before the upcoming Congress in Jerusalem, the Israel Government and the leading party, Mapai, have already "decided by an overwhelming majority that the Zionist Organization is in-serve as a source of strength dispensable to Israel." to Jews everywhere.''
The World Zionist Organization president said that he was not issuing a direct challenge for Jews to become organized as Zionists, because he recognizes
SHARm URGiD TO RESUME ACTIVE ROLE
^ r , ^ J J 1. Dr. Emanuel Neumann, presi-
that Israel can be aided by sup- ^^^^ ^j^^ ^orld Conference
port outside the Zionist Move- General Zionists, and mem-
S^^'J^r,}^ at his urging that th? ^ ^ the Jewish Agency exec
World Zionist Organization has j referring to th^e issues
changed its constitution and confronting the forthcoming
opened Its ranks to various Jew. ^^^^^ Zionist Congress, assert-
ish organizations who are di- ^^^^ .^j^^ ^^^1^ Zionist
rectly interested m helping Is- jvE.ovement it at a crossroads of
rael survive. He expressed his . ^
surprise that this move met with „!:i^^^'u„^;,^^e »
initial ekpressions of disapprov- ^""^ ^^^^'^ horizons.
al from existing Z^ionist parties who felt that "it was not good to open the gates." However,
EDITORIAL TOPIC
He urged that "the World Zi-See SHARETT URGED (continued on page 31)
Zionists stand at historic crossroads
by LEO H. MARCUS
Whether or not the Zionist Movement is to continue its dynamic role in Jewish life, and what form this role will take, will be the major topic for discussion at the forthcoming World Zionist Congress, to be held in Jerusalem later this month. The Zionist Movement stands at the crossroads of Jewish history. Its prime goal—that of creating a Jewish haven, has been brilliantly achieved. How successful it will be in achieving its other goals—^securing the State of Israel, strengthening the meaning of Jewish life in the Diaspora^— remains to be seen, and will depend on whether or not it has that facility to change with the times in order to cope with new challenges.
In his "great debate" with Nahum Goldmann, Ben-Gurion has criticized the stand on aliyah taken by the Zionist Movement—and in fact has stated that the modern-day Zionist Organization is not Zionistic at all. Ben-Gurion likens the Zionist Movement to a scaffolding on which a building is erected. The building, the Jewish State, now exists and the scaffolding should be torn down.
Dr. Goldmann is of the opinion that world Jewry is afflicted with the "fatal illusions" that Israel is safe and secure and that Jewish survival is assured in the Diaspora. It is Dr. Goldmann's contention that Zionism is still necessary and must attain new goals by uniting the large majority of the Jewish people who are not Zionists, but, nevertheless, want to help Israel to become stronger and to serve as a source of strength to Jews everywhere. Referring to the scaffolding, Goldmann contends that if a building is to grow and have more than one storey, the scaffolding must remain and be continually heightened.
The State of Israel was never meant to be an end in itself.
See RENAISSANCE (Conlinued on page 29) .