growth of the Zion Commonwealth, and disseminating information in regard to Palestine, to the end that practical work in the Land of Israel may go hand in hand with the growth of Zionist sentiment.
We must not forget that, after all, what we do in and for Palestine, will ultimately determine the success, or failure, of the Basle platform. A nation cannot be built from the outside. And I often feel that all Zionists have underestimated the value and importance of that great Ohave Zion movement, which preceded the organization of the first Zionist Congress. Zionist societies and mass meetings and celebrations are of course, necessary but some of us have made the mistake of becoming mere "local and neighborhood Zionists." After all, our organization is only a means to an end, the upbuilding of a Jewish nation in Palestine.
Because we are convinced that our efforts will be successful only in the old historic manner that we urge the establishment of a special Palestine Bureau to encourage Jewish economic activities in Palestine, and to co-ordinate the practical agencies for Jewish colonization.
Herzl himself in Altneuland has pictured the upbuilding of the Jewish Commonwealth in Palestine. The hero of that vision — David Litvak — is a Jew who first became a Palestinian. Even as Moses placed his hands upon Joshua as the symbol of the transfer of Jewish leadership, so did Herzl put the stamp of approval upon the ideal, David Litvak, whom the founder of the modern Zionism had never seen. Will David Litvak lead us into the promised land, which the author of the Judenstadt and Altneuland could view only from foreign soil. We firmly believe that the ultimate triumph of Zionism depends upon the rise of a great Jewish Leader in Palestine, a man with brains of a Disraeli and the heart of a Herzl. And whether he comes from the gilded palace of the rich, or the dismal tenement of the ghetto, one thing is certain; the statesman architect of the Jewish commonwealth will not shape his life and complete his task here, but there in the land of our forefathers and on the soil where trod prophets of Israel.
4 Wu DE a di a DE ie rd a An ken du EL DE We The Chairman: The above report will be submitted to the committee on Palestine and will came up for action later.
Mr. Philip Barnett of Boston reported on behalf of the Inter-Collegiate Zionist Association of America.
INTERCOLLEGIATE ZIONIST ASSOCIATION.
Mr. Barnett: The Intercollegiate Zionist Association was organized June 24, 1915, at Harvard University. The association was expected to form a federation of collegiate Zionist societies with a view to strengthening Zionist sentiment in the colleges. Although the Association engaged in general Zionistic work, such as selling Shekolim and in assisting the various societies in their local work, it has made considerable progress in organization. There are now Zionist societies at the following universities: Brandon College (Manitoba, Canada), University of California, City College of New York, Chicago Kent Law School, Harvard University, McGill University (Montreal, Canada), Ohio State College, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, University of Wisconsin, and the various institutions in Baltimore, forming the University Zionist Society of Baltimore.
SUG WVEERVCRIERT EEE en I a In a number of other colleges societies are just sprouting, while the seeds have been sown in about a dozen more. Next year, consequently, should see at least fifteen more societies in full blossom. We expect the conference of Collegiate Zionist societies to outline a policy of activity for the coming year.
VIRGINIA STATE ZIONIST ASSOCIATION.
Rabbi Goldberg of Norfolk in behalf of the Virginia State Association: In the limited time given to me, it will be impossible to give you a graphic account of our activities. Nor do I deem it necessary to tax your patience now and to burden you with figures and numbers. What is the main idea underlying the formation of our State Organization? What was the object in view that brought it into existence? The answer may be found in one word—organization. There is a great deal of energy wasted and proper results are not obtained because of lack of organization of the proper concentration and effort. The main aim of the Virginia State Ass'n is to make proper use of Zionist sentiment in the State, not to permit it to evaporate but to direct it in the
proper channels. In a word, to organize the existing Zionists and to gain new recruits for the movement. This hasbeen the ideal of the Virginia State Ass’n. Our Associatiom is only ır months old and yet it can already point to a great deal of work accomplished in the State. A great deal depends upon the secretary, for the main work has to be done- through correspondence, and I wish to say in this connection that we in Virginia are indeed very fortunate in having Mrs. David Blaustein, a very devoted energetic Zionist who is willing to make every sacrifice for the Movement. She has written during the year over two hundred letters to affiliated organizations to keep up their interest in the Movement. The stronghold of, Zionism is the city of Norfolk. We have raised in the City of Norfolk last year, & city composed of 3,000 Jewish souls, over $3,000 for the Emergency Fund. One dollar per head is our motto. We also raised in Norfolk last year $800 for the National Fund. In the other cities of the State work is progressing and our last State Convention, which was addressed by Mr. Lipsky, proved to be a great success. The Ass’n has arranged several tours for speakers. In March we had Dr. Epstein who organized special committees for collections. We had Mr. Cowen; also Dr. Levin, who has left a profound impression and collected a substantial sum for the Emergency Fund. The expenses were defrayed entirely by afliliated organizations. It is my deep conviction that if the State organizations were formed in every State of the Union, such organizations would facilitate the work of the Federation to which they would be responsible. They would strengthen the Federation, widening its activity and further Zionism throughout the Land.
PALESTINE HOSPITAL UNIT
Miss Szold, of New York, on behalf of Hadassah: Fellow Delegates: I wonder whether next year at this time you will greet me so kindly when I tell you that I am going to ask you to turn your applause into hard cash. I need it. You need it as much as I do and the reason we both need it is because the need of Palestine is extreme. Yesterday, I do not know whether you all were present, therefore, I am going to take time this morning to repeat the request that has come to us from the Copenhagen Committee that we raise a hospital. They tried to do it for Palestine. They had news from Palestine that they have no physicians. We have recently lost two of our best men. They are Dr. Moskowitz and Dr. Krechevsky. Many of our physicians have been called away to service in the European armies. Epidemics are rampant, drugs scarce, those that can be found in Palestine costly. I am told that two more physicians have died of typhus, one of them Dr. Stein of Jaffa, and Jaffa, to which all colonists looked for support, is no longer able to help itself. Hadassah has been commissioned by the P. C. to take up this work, because Hadassah had been doing work along the same lines before. $25,000 is the cost of a hospital consisting of three physicians and 12 nurses. We made a modified proposition to the P. C. It is our belief that we must send more than three physicians because it is a question of furnishing physicians to the whole of Palestine.e We must not only send the ordinary physician but we must send at least one specialist, because the few physicians that are there are unable to cope with the demands made upon them. For this we need more than the Red Cross usually needs. We have no right to start on less than $25,000. Hadassah will undertake the responsibility for it. Hadassah last year raised $12,000. This year Hadassah needs $31,000, $25,000 for a hospital unit and $6,000 for work already carried on in Jaffa and elsewhere. Will you heln us?
A motion was made, seconded and carried to suspend the rules to take action on this matter.
Mr. de Haas: I move that the convention pledge its unqualified support to this venture.
Mr. Lewin-Epstein seconded this motion.