THE BAR MITZVAH CONVENTION AT PITTSBURG,JULY 1st to 6th, 1910
Organized Zionism in America has passed its thirteenth birthday, and the bar mitzvah celebration was a notable event, thanks to the active and enterprising young Zionists of Pittsburg, where the convention was held. Too much credit cannot be bestowed upon the active little band of workers composing the convention committee, for due to their untiring, energetic efforts the convention was a great success. Nothing was left undone to make the delegates feel at home and to insure their greatest possible comfort and enjoyment, and it is safe to say that every delegate will look back with pleasure whenever the bar mitzvah convention is called to his mind.
The delegates in attendance at this convention numbered 130, as compared to 197 attending the twelfth convention in New York City. It must be remembered, however, that the location of a convention is a prime factor in the matter of attendance of the delegates, and for reasons which are obvious, New York had a great advantage over Pittsburg as regards location. The delegates from the middle west and the southwest were more in evidence than at several previous conventions.
SUNDAY MORNING SESSION.
The business sessions of the Convention, which were all held at the Zionist Institute, began on Sunday morning. President Friedenwald called the convention to order and proceeded to read his
annual message, which will be found elsewhere in this issue.
President Friedenwald announced the personnel of the Credentials Committee, as follows: David B. Tierkel, chairman; A. Salzberg, Julius Meyer, J. Kahanowitz, and Miss Minnie Isaacs. He also appointed a special committee to audit the finances of the Federation for the past year, composed of Messrs. Henry Jackson, Kehlman, of New York; H. M. Kallen, of Boston; J. Josephson, of Philadelphia, and Borushak, of St. Louis.
Secretary Jasin mentioned the receipt of a number of congratulatory letters and telegrams to the convention from various Zionist societies, also the donation of $36 to the National Fund by the Cleveland Zionist Council, and a Zionist banner, decorated with $10 worth of National Fund stamps, by the Louisville Zionists.
A telegram from Samuel Strauss, of New York, was read, in which he congratulated the convention and expressed regret at being unable to attend.
President Friedenwald mentioned the recept of a letter from Mr. Clarence I. de Sola, president of the Canadian Zionist Federation, introducing Messrs. Stone, Singer, Cronin and Hoffman, who came unofficially to attend the convention. It was decided to accord these guests full privileges.
An interesting communication was read from Herr David Wolffsohn, president of the International Zionist Organization.