senior might be obtained to lead and instruct their Zionist circle.
The slightest encouragement or assistance given them has an immediate and remarkable effect. A year ago there existed in New York but three junior circles, while today, with the assistance of a few seniors, they number seventeen, each with a membership ranging from twenty-five to two hundred. It was a new and inspiring sight to witness the celebration of Shebuoth, in New York, by over six hundred young Zionists, and in Brooklyn, on the same day, with very near as great a number.
Our work during the past year has been mainly confined to New York, though circles throughout the country have been encouraged and societies and councils have been urged to organize junior branches with. little or no response. In New York, where our response was greatest, where we may boast of .nearly one thousand junior Zionists,- we have but realized the possibilities of our work, and. our anticipations for future years are most optimistic. Our policy has been to compel each circle to have an older leader, who conducts the work under the supervision of the Federation. To harmonize and extend the work, two measures have proven successful—first, the organization into a body of all junior circles, and secondly, the organization of the leaders. The former is known as the Junior Zionist Council of New York, and is composed of delegates of all junior circles. This is conducted entirely by juniors, with the supervision of senior directors, as in all junior activity. The Council promotes the friendly relations between the circles, exchanges plans and activities, and holds combined entertainments to celebrate Jewish holidays. I would encourage the imitation of this plan in all cities where three or more circles exist.
Working parallel with the Council is the Conference of Junior Leaders, a regularly organized body composed of the leaders of the circles. This organization is endeavoring to draft into it a large body of young men and women, preferably from colleges, competent and willing to lead junior circles. The city will be divided into districts, each in charge of a committee of leaders of the dis-
trict. The committee will supervise and endeavor to extend the organization of circles within its jurisdiction. This will be accomplished by endeavoring to organize within Hebrew or religious schools or Jewish institutions not antagonistic to our cause. I believe it undesirable to organize in places where our motives must be hidden or the control of the circle given to the institution. If within any district no friendly institution can be found, then independent circles will be organized.
Thus the work in New York exhibits the possibilities of junior activity, if it only receives the active support of our seniors. It proves conclusively the quick and hearty response of every attempt made to assist them. If the work begun at New York is imitated throughout the country, I am sure junior organization will become one of the important activities of our Federation.
It must not be considered that junior circles are to become the vehicles of Zionistic propaganda.. We want every young Zionist to know the principles and outlines of Zionism. Still our principal task must be to render instruction in Jewish studies, not merely ‚to inculcate a mass of knowledge, but to arouse the interest of the child, inspire him with a love for his religion and for everything that breathes Judaism.
With this end in mind, a study circle department was inaugurated in THE MaAccABAEAN. Here a course of Biblical study was so outlined as to be adaptable to circles. It included topics for essays, and discussions, readings relating to these subjects and special programmes for Jewish holidays. THE MAcCABAEAN has thus largely contributed in making the plan of study successful.
Yet, there have been great drawbacks that have hampered us in our work. There are no text books, adaptable for these circles, written from a nationalistic standpoint. We have little or no Jewish readings or volumes that are particularly intended for our study circles. Constantly we have had demands for a Jewish play and our poverty in these writings has caused non-Jewish plays to be ‘enacted.. It is indeed disheartening when we must tell even our circles we have not anv