The Maccabaean

FOURTH ANNUAL SUB-CONVENTNON OF HADASSAH

The fourth annual Sub-convention of Hadassah was held Monday and Tuesday afternoons, July 3 and 4, at the Hotel Walton, Philadelphia, Pa., Miss Henrietta Szold, Chairman of the Central Committee, in the Chair, and delegates to the number of about seventy, representing twenty-six Chapters in as many cities, present.

The Central Committee reported that since the last Convention held in Boston, the Hadassah organization had increased from fifteen to twenty-six Chapters, and a twenty-seventh Chapter, in Los Angeles, Cal., had applied for a charter on the opening day of the Convention. The total membership of Hadassah is now 1,937. Nearly $12,500 had been raised by the Chapters during the past year for the Emergency Fund, from which Hadassah drew only its budget of $4,800.

Although for personal reasons the two nurses sent to Palestine were obliged to return to this country, the work in Jerusalem continued uninterrupted, the maternity work under the supervision of Doctor Bertha Kagan, and the trachoma work in twenty schools, with 3,600 pupils, under the care of Doctor Albert Ticho. Through the generosity of the Chicago Jewish Committee for Palestinian Welfare, Hadassah will be enabled to extend the maternity work to Jaffa, which along with the rest of Palestine is suffering greatly from a dearth of physicians.

The former nurse-in-charge, Miss Rose Kaplan, is at present caring for the refugees in the encampments in Alexandria, and reports of her work reach us from time to time from Mr. William C. Hornblower, the manager of the encampments.

The Central Committee also reported the receipt of a communication from the Inner Actions Comite, urging the need of physicians and nurses in Palestine. The Hadassah Central Committee favored the equipment of a Medical Unit, consisting of ten physicians and two nurses, the probable cost of equipment, drugs, transportation, etc., for which would probably require a minimum of $25,000. It was resolved that the delegates to the Hadassah Convention go on record as endorsing the action of the Central Committee in accepting the task of equipping a Medical Unit, and that they pledge themselves to raise the required amount, the Unit to start not later than September 1, if possible.

Hadassah is prepared to furnish its Chapters with a traveling library of Jewish and Zionist literature, and it has also undertaken the publication of the Maccabaean at Purim next year, for the fifth anniversary of Hadassah.

At the second session Miss Sampter, Director of the School of Zionism, read a paper containing a report of the work done at the School of Zionism during the season 1915-1916, and outlined plans for the future.

N N a EEE The changes in the Hadassah constitution as printed in the April Bulletin were next considered. It was resolved that the dues of associate members be raised to three dollars, that every Chapter of Hadassah shall be entitled to send the same number of delegates to the Hadassah Convention as it sends to the Convention of the Federation of American Zionists, provided it shall have paid its full Palestinian quota to Hadassah; that besides regular and associate members there shall also be members-at-large in centers where no Chapters are formed, and that Hadassah shall receive three dollars per annum from each member-at-large, out of which it shall pay the Shekel and Federation dues, and of which 50% shall be devoted to the Palestinian purpose that the Central Committee shall be increased to nine members, that its officers shall be a Chairamn and a Treasurer, and that the Central Committee shall initiate and administer the Palestinian enterpvrises of Hadassah.

The following resolutions were adopted: 1. That the Central Committee of Hadassah continue to issue the Bulletin monthly in printed form for distribution among all the members of Hadassah Chapters. 2. That the Hadassah Chapters, instead of remitting their payments for sub-charter fees, Shekel taxes, and Fed-

eration dues directly to the Federation of American Zionists, shall forward all such sums to the Central Committee of Hadassah for transmission to the Federation of American Zionists.

3. That this Convention endorse the policy of the Central Committee in retaining a small percentage of all Palestine Funds for administration and propaganda purposes.

4. That all collections for the Provisional Executive Committee be sent to the Committee through our own Central Committee, except in those cases where the Chapters are affiliated with state organizations, 5. Whereas, experience has shown that Zionist societies

can be sustained, and can work intelligently for the advance of the movement, only if the underlying principles of Zionism are thoroughly, understood by the members, and the scope of Zionist institutions and the bearing of Zionist achievements are thoroughly familiar to the members, therefore Be it Resolved, that every Chapter of Hadassah be urged earnestly to organize a Zionist reading circle or a Zionist study circle, and that such circle or circles keep in touch with the Hadassah School of Zionism for guidance or co-operation.

6. Resolved, that the sewing circles organized by a Chapter of Hadassah shall appoint a reader, either one of its members or an outsider, to read aloud during part of its sessions, and that the Central Committee be asked to prepare a list of literary Zionist readings to be used in this way by Hadassah sewing circles.

Doctor Dora Askowith presented a statement on the aims of the Jewish Women’s Congress Organization, and appealed to the delegates to the Hadassah Convention to support the movement in their home towns.

Mrs. Joseph Selick of Toronto, addressed the Convention and announced that on her return to Canada she would Proceed at once to form Chapters of Hadassah, and in particular would secure funds for the Hospital Unit and for the Alexandria work of Hadassah. Through the courtesy of the British Government, the Zionists in Canada and in England are now permitted to collect funds for their suffering brethren in Palestine and in Egypt.

The following were elected members of the Central Committee: Miss Sophia Berger, Mrs. Richard Gottheil, Miss Rose A. Herzog, Miss Lotta Levensohn, Mrs. B. A. Rosenblatt, Miss Jessie E. Sampter, Miss Alice L. Seligsberg, Miss Nellie Straus, and Miss Henrietta Szold.

THE INTERCOLLEGIATE ZIONISTS’ CONFERENCE The conference of members interested in Zionist work among college students was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Hotel Walton. There were sixteen delegates and deputies present, representing eleven colleges. Reports were received from many of the colleges represented through their delegates. Addresses were delivered during the session by Judge Julian Mack, Dr. Benzion Mossinsohn and Miss Mary Antin. One of the important decisions arrived at was that a secretary be secured for the ensuing year to take charge of the administrative work of the organization. The conference pledged itself to raise $1,000 for the Emergency Fund from amonest the students.

The following officers were elected: Jonas Friedenwald, President; Benjamin Levinson, ıst Vice-President; Martin Feinstein, and Vice-President; P. Berditcheff, Treasurer. The Secretary, who is to be a paid official, will be elected by the officers and members of the Advisory Committee, The following of the Advisory Committee were elected: Justice Brandeis, Judge Mack, Prof. Gottheil and Dr. Kallen.

ae Dt une ET ei — Kuh ngihmuhun "sch: An en Anal Ein Anh AT ID 5) mE) 17 CE di SC ze % © 7 8 & vy 9 Y7 It was decided that the various collegiate societies interested in the Zionist Organization be urged to follow the method employed in Baltimore of having active circles of selected members for intensive study and work under the leadershin of the older men.

There were a number of interesting discussions during the conference and conditions seemed favorable to the strengthening of the movement among the students.