The Zionist Movement
A MONTHLY REVIEW OF ZIONIST ACTIVITY
Readers of the Maccabaean are asked to send news of Zionist activities for publication in this department. All communications should be addressed: Managing Editor, Maccabaean Magazine, 44 East 23rd Street, New York.
NEWS FROM PALESTINE
The Commander-in-chief for Syria, General Djemal Pasha, recently visited the Jewish colonies Rishon le-Zion and Petach-Tikwah. In both colonies representatives of the population bid him welcome. In Rishon le-Zion Djemal Pasha visited the town hall and park, and contributed 10 pounds for the benefit of the colony's poor children. In Petach-Tikwah, where the general also spent several hours, he visited the school, the soup-kitchen, and the synagogue, where he was given a reception. Djemal Pasha said: "I am pleased with the immense civilizing work, the Jews have realized here, the importance of which I appreciate highly."
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According to a report received from M. Sheinkin, the well known Palestinian communal worker, who is now in Alexandria, there are forty thousand destitute Jews in Palestine as a result of this war. He further states that the authorities and the population are not so ill disposed toward the Jews as they were at the beginning of the war. All Jewish schools, with the exception of the Jewish Gymnasium, are open.
ZIONIST ACTIVITIES ABROAD ENGLAND.
An important conference was recently held here which was addressed by Nahum Sokolow. It was decided to organize a Council of representatives of all Jewish organizations to work for the granting of equal rights to the Jews in all countries and also for the accomplishment of the Zionist program. Joseph Cowen, President of the Federation of English Zionists presided.
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Israel Cohen, Secretary of the International Zionist Association, a British subject, who has been interned in a detention camp in Germany since the war, has been released and is expected in this country soon.
GREECE.
A strong movement has been set on foot among the Jewish population at Salonika, Greece, thanks to the propaganda of the Zionist societies, to raise funds for the relief of the Jews in Palestine. As the result of an eloquent appeal by M. Abraham Recanati, secretary of the Jewish Gymnastic Society, "Maccabi," the sum of 1,300 francs was collected at a public ceremony, and since then a group of its members have formed the Lemaan Zion Society, which will make monthly collections for the benefit of the Palestine Jews.
HOLLAND.
The following is an extract from a letter received from Holland: “Since the outbreak of the war, thousands of Jews immi- learning and culture. The Jewish National movement, which has hitherto been weak has become a strong factor in Jewish life here. The Zionist Federation has at present twenty-six afhiliated organizations with a membership of several thousand. These societies have undertaken a vigorous campaign for the relief work in Palestine and for the Jews of Russia and Poland. “The sentiment of the Christian world towards the Jews in this country is very favorable.”
RUSSIA.
Dr. I. Tchlenow, of Moscow, member of the Inner Actions Committee, it is reported, is seriously ill. All his previous arrangements have been cancelled for an indefinite veriod.
GENERAL ZIONIST NEWS
The Federation of American Zionists announces that the campaign for shekel enrollment in the Jewish fraternal Orders and Chevras has resulted in a number of Lodges already taking action. Committees are visiting the Lodge rooms, and are being received with great cordiality. In spite of the fact that many Lodges hold their elections in January, a number of them have already decided to enroll as shekel-paying groups.
The following Lodges have reported that they have decided to pay shekels: Emil Zola Lodge, I.O.B.A., of Allentown, Pa.; Albert Kruger Lodge, I.O.B.A., of New York; Theodore Herzl Lodge, I.O.B.S., Brooklyn; New London Lodge, I.O.B.S., New London, Conn.; Ponevzher Lodge, I.O.B.S., of Philadelphia; Congregation Agudas Achim of Linden, N. J.; Young Friends Lodge, I. O. B. A., Brooklyn.
Shekel books may be obtained of the Federation of American Zionists, 44 East 23rd Street, New York City.
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The Intercollegiate Zionist Association, affiliated with the Federation of American Zionists, was established at the Boston convention, and has already succeeded in combining student Zionist societies in Harvard University, California, Ohio State, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Other student bodies about to affiliate are: Baltimore Collegiate, Brandon College of Manitoba, McGill, and City College of New York. Societies have been organized recently in Pennsylvania State, Yale University, University of Denver and Colorado University. Correspondence has been carried on with societies in Brown, Columbia University of Cincinnati, University of Chicago, Kent School of Law at Chicago, Clark University, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York University, Rut- wers. Texas. Valparaiso and Western Reserve.
Isadore Levin of Harvard is President of the Association and Philip Barnet Secretary.
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The stockholders of the Zion Commonwealth held a meeting on Wednesday, December 29th. The following were elected to serve in office for the ensuing year: Bernard A. Rosenblatt, President; Israel B. Brodie of Baltimore, Vice-President; Benjamin Siegel, Second Vice-President; Sylvan Robison, Treasurer; Rehaviah I.ewin-Epstein, Secretary, and E. W. Lewin-Epstein and Louis Robison as the two Trustees. The report of the past year’s work showed a collection of $2,373.56 for the Zion Commonwealth Land Fund, of which $300 was paid to the Palestine Land Development Company as a option for land in Amek Israel: the remainder ıs deposited here for use at an opportune time.
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The Second Annual Convention of the Young Judaea Leaders was held in New York, Saturday evening, December 25th, at the Y. W. H. A. Seventy-five leaders from various States of the Union were in attendance.
The first session was designated as a teachers and students evening and 350 Public School teachers and college students responded to this invitation of the Young Judaea. The principal address of the evening was given by Dr. D. de Sola Pool, the president of the organization.
Following Dr. Pool's address, general discussion followed in which the various leaders and others participated.
The second session was opened on Sunday morning with Mr. Schneeberg presiding. Reports were received from various organizations.
The third session was held on Sunday evening, with Mr. Silverkohn in the chair. The Resolutions Committee presented their report and a number of resolutions were adopted. An interesting paper on the subject of "Rabbinic Thought adapted for the Young Judaea Clubs" was then presented by Dr. S. T. Hurwitz. Dr. Pool followed with a talk on matters of presenting Jewish history in a club and offered a series of practical suggestions for leaders on this subject. Mr. Ralph Fleisher followed with a paper on the subject of Boys' Club in Young Judaea.