"THE HEALING OF THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE"
The report submitted at the first annual meeting of Hadassah Chapter, Daughters of Zion, held on March 18, aroused so much interest among the members of the Society and their friends present in the Shearith Israel Synagogue vestry rooms, that the Board of Directors feels encouraged to give a survey of the first year’s history of the Chapter to a larger public, and to present its program for possible imitation elsewhere. Languishing societies in other cities may be stimulated to try the Hadassah plan, which developed an almost inanimate study group into a live member of the Federation of American Zionists.
ORGANIZATION
One year ago this Purim, a small body of women in the city of New York organized themselves into a Zionist society, which took the name The Daughters of Zion, borne by many societies in the past, and recently recommended by the Federation of American Zionists for all women's Zionist societies. As its specific designation the New York society retained the name of the small group Hadassah from which it had sprung.
According to its constitution, the double purpose of the Society is to promote Jewish institutions and enterprises in the Holy Land and to foster Jewish ideals. The By-Laws provide that, in pursuance of the first purpose, the major part of the funds of the Society be devoted to establishing a system of district visiting nursing in Palestine.
PROPAGANDA
Up to the very recent past, Hadassah Chapter spent most of its energy upon propaganda, directed towards two ends: (1) Towards quickening the old-time sense of responsibility in regard to Palestine among American Jewesses, and (2) towards conversion to Zionism.
Fortunately Jews still have a sentimental interest in the Holy Land, and it is possible to stimulate even those who are unsympathetic with Zionism to participate in the betterment of conditions among their brethren in the
ancient home, The Daughters of Zion therefore provided for two sorts of membership, the non-Zionist and the Zionist, The Zionist members are taxed three dollars a year, half of their dues going to Palestinian work, and the other half to the financing of the organization, the payment of a per capita tribute to the Federation of American Zionists, and the payment of Shekolim, the last two for the Zionist members. The non-Zionist or associate members are taxed only two dollars a year, but every cent of their dues is used for Palestinian work. Thus the Daughters of Zion, a society founded by Zionist women and with Zionist aims, serves at the same time as a philanthropic agency for those non-Zionists who can be interested in social work among women and children in Palecstine
Hadassah Chapter has used the following methods in making propaganda:
(1) It has held ten parlor meetings in New York and vicinity. The usual procedure was for the hostess of the occasion to issue written invitations to her friends, asking them to come to her home on a given afternoon to hear an address on Palestine, illustrated by stereotypic views. At these gatherings one or more speakers described modern conditions in Palestine and made a plea for Zionism. Then with a view to breaking the audience up into small groups and promoting informal discussion, refreshments were served.
(2) In addition to the ten parlor meetings, two neighborhood propaganda meetings of the same character were held in public places.
To guide other societies in planning for propaganda meetings, attention should be called emphatically to the value of the slides. Not only do these 'stereopticon views interest and instruct, but they intensify the emotional response of the audience to a presentation of Zionism.
(3) Outside organizations, like Sections of the Council of Jewish Women in New York and Philadelphia, the Sisterhood of Temple Zion at Mount Vernon, the Young Men’s Hebrew Association of the Bronx in New York, the Down Town Branch of