Hadassah Asks Action Against Arab Boycotters,
Calls for More Intensified Educational Activities
(Continued from dPage 1)
area runs along Israel's Jor-
dan border, along the new
road to Eliat.
At a JNF program at the
Tuesday afternoon plenary ses-
sion, land reclamation projects
were outlined by Mendel Fisher,
former JNF executive director;
the fund's new director, Dr.
Joseph Sternstein, and Mrs.
Irma Lindheim, former national
president of Hadassah, whose
book based on her first Zionist
activities until her settlement
in a kibbutz in Israel had just
come off the press was intro-
duced to the convention dele-
gates. Fisher was honored at
the convention in recognition
of his 30 years' leadership in
JNF, by having his • name in-
scribed on the Freedom Bell
at the Hadassah Hospital in
Jerusalem.
The announcement of the Ha-
dassah JNF project was made
by Mrs. J. Leonard Weiss, of
Irvington, N.J., • Hadassah's na-
tional JNF chairman. ,
It was revealed that Hadas-
sah is the largest organizational
contributor to the JNF in the
world.
Another convention resolu-
tion called upon the United
States Government "to make
it a condition of foreign aid
that no country receiving
American aid be permitted to
engage in economic warfare
with other countries receiv-
ing similar assistance."
At the same time, the resolu-
tion expressed confidence that
the United States "will con-
tinue its generous aid program
to Israel as an important aspect -
of established American pol-
icy."
The action was taken by the
2,000 delegates — representing
Hadassah's more than 318,000
members in 1,320 chapters and
groups throughout the United
States and Puerto Rico=at the
48th national convention of Ha-
dassah at the Pittsburgh Hilton
Hotel.
This resolution also called
upon the United States "to
make it unequivocally clear to
the Arab States that it will not
permit any country to discrim-
inate against American citizens
or American business enter-
prises who do business with
Israel, whether this discrimina-
tion is in the form of economic
blacklisting, the denial of
travel permits, or other restric-
tive acts, in violation of free
trade and movement."
Dr. Kalman J. Mann, direc-
tor-general of the Hadassah
Medical Organization in Is-
rael, predicted, on the basis
of research on - the suscepti-
bility of Oriental Jews to dis-
eases, as compared with that
of European settlers in Israel,
that in the next 20 years
Israel will experience an in-
crease in coronary trombosis,
diabetes and arteriosclerosis.
He said this "will be due to
the impact of the Western way
of life upon Jewish immigrants
from Oriental countries."
Explaining the study that was
made of diseases among various
elements in Israel, Dr. Mann
pointed out that mortality from
coronary diseases is 94.1 per
100,000 among European Jews
and 18.3. among Oriental Jews.
Dr. Mann added: "Israel is
becoming a highly industrial-
ized country with Western
orientations and way of living,
with all its advantages and dis-
advantages. As a result of this
way of life, the face of health
in Israel is rapidly becoming
similar to that in the Western
nations, with infectious diseases
wiped out completely and life
becoming prolonged with 70.7
years for the male" and 73.4 for
the female. This results in the
manifestation of degenerative
diseases such as c or o 11 a r y and a forfeiture of connection tain their independence from I their children and to develop
thrombosis, arteriosclerosis and with the Jewish people." She Soviet aggressive design. This a series of educational and
expressed confidence that "with- requires an adequate and read- child rehabilitation projects
diabetes."
To cope with this serious in Jewish education rests the ily available United States de- patterned after those of Israel's
problem, Dr. Mann said a bi- guarantee that the assimilatory terrent to military aggression Youth Aliyah, the convention
delegates were told by Moshe
continental research project process will be slowed and that from outside the region.
"Second: we must support Kol, world head of Youth
has been initiated in partner- knowledge will restore spiritual
ship with the United States Na- equilibrium and set the Jew at the use of all the instruments Aliyah.
tional Institutes of Health • for greater ease within his environ- and ingenuity of the United
The first step in setting up
Nations for the reduction of such a program, Kol said, will
the "evaluation of the genetic ment."
In the last 12 months, Mrs. political tensions within the be the establishment of a
and environmental factors that
Mortimer Jacobson reported, region and strive to prevent special rural vocational center
relate to these diseases."
Dr. Mann announced that Hadassah raised $11,360,415 for the Arab-Israeli dispute from in Tanganyika.
the United States National its Israel project and work in developing again into an open
He reported that Youth
Institutes of Health at Be- the U.S.—the largest sum to be conflict that could rapidly Aliyah is preparing to absorb
thesda, Md., and the Hadas- raised by the organization in spread. In this respect, the , 6,000 new children in Israel
peace-keeping record of the in the coming year, as com-
sah Medical Organization have its 50-year history.
In a major address delivered U.N., since 1956, should be pared with the 4,000 absorbed
initiated the first joint medi-
cal research project to be at the convention, Israel's Am- heartening to us all and de- in the concluding current year.
undertaken in Israel. The bassador A v r a h a m Harman serves our earnest cooperation
Thanks to Israel for aid given
project is a study of hyper- placed major emphasis on the and support.
African countries were ex-
"Third:
we
can
encourage
all
tension, arteriosclerosis and educational, economic and so-
pressed Monday night, in an
coronary heart diseases in cial goals of his country. "Con- Middle Eastern nations to de- address to the convention dele-
the different ethnic groups in stantly aware of the changes in vote less time to angry propa- gates by Miss Angie Brooks,
Israel. He said that the N.I.H. the Middle East," Harman said ganda debates and to subver- Assistant Secretary of State of
has contributed $100,000 for that Israelis "adapt themselves sive intrigues against their Liberia.
the first stage of the project, to meet whatever challenge is neighbors, and more to the
Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel's
and Hadassah Medical Organ- posed to us. We travel our road solution of their own immense Foreign
Minister, who had
ization is providing the medi- in confidence and hope, but problems of internal develop- just arrived
in this country
with a full understanding of ment.
cal and. allied personnel.
to head the Israel delegation
the
effort
that
will
be
required
"Fourth:
we
should
be
pre-
Dr. Mann said that plans are
at the current UN General
pared to give special priority Assembly sessions, came to
already under way for a second of us."
Israel's technological and assistance to those countries the convention Tuesday for
phase of this joint research
undertaking for which the economic development, its as- which are genuinely concerned a four-hour interval to ad-
N.I.H. has allocated an addi- piration for peace and de- with improving the lot of all dress the delegates. She was .
tional $100,000.. This second fense against attack were their citizens, not only the given a standing ovation by
phase also will have the par- Ares e -n t e d by Ambassador wealthy few.
the delegation among whom
ticipation of the Government of Harmon as a three-fold Is-
"Our primary objective is the were many of her old friends
raeli responsibilities.
development of prosperous and and associates in the Zionist
Israel.
Harman took occasion to ex- stable societies throughout the movement.
Rising tides of interest in
Jewish education and the con- plain his deep interest in Ha- Middle East, whose material
Recalling her early interest
trasting assimilationist move- dassah by pointing out that his benefits are spread throughout in the Zionist movement. her
ments, the dangers that are evi- wife was a member of the Ha- every level of the economy and association with many of its
dent in a re-emerging anti- dassah national board, that his whose national interests are founders and with Henrietta
Semitism, Israel's role as the sister and his children have served by an atmosphere of Szold. Mrs. Meir paid tribute
normalizer of Jewish life for been active in Hadassah and live and let live. The emergence to Hadassah for having defied
those who are forming another have shared in Hadassah proj- of such societies is the only what some people called the
long-term key to Middle Eastern "realities" of the impossible.
migrating wave of immigrants ects.
and the part played by the Jew-
Addressing the first public peace.
By dreaming, along with other
ish women of America in Is- session of the convention, Ches-
"Fifth: we should continue Zionists, Mrs. Meir said, by pos-
rael's upbuilding—these and a ter Bowles, President Ken- our patient, persistent efforts sessing vision and thereby
score of other issues were nedy's special representative, to find some basis of economic adopting a policy of courage,
among the major topics for dis- reviewed the crisis generated cooperation among neighboring Hadassah has been able to suc-
Middle Eastern nations, how- ceed in the =field of health for
cussion • at the convention.
by the situation in Cuba.
Taking note of the "lunatic
Attacking "hot-blooded and ever tentative or restrictive the Palestine before there was an
fringe" activities in Great Brit- hot-headed extremists" who are areas of cooperation may be.
Israel and now in the Jewish -
ain, the Latin American coun- advocating military action by
"Sixth: we should relentless- State.
tries and even among some ele- this country against Cuba, ly continue to support efforts
She declared that even now,
ments in the United States, Bowles said that they are doing to reach an agreement on arms by choosing the present site for
Mrs. Sigfreid Kramarsky, who "irreparable harm to the cause limitation — unofficial if not the Hadassah hospital in Jeru-
was re-elected national presi- of freedom." He said that their official; regional if not univer- salem, Hadassah has shown its
dent, expressed concern over propaganda does irreparable sal. The present regional arms ability to judge Israel's needs
"manifestations of intolerance harm to the prestige of the race, escalating as it is now into properly.
and bigotry," and declared: United States, and at the same the missile stage, is profoundly
In her discussion of Israel's
"We do not understand how a time warned of the possibility dangerous and costly for all difficulties with the Arab
world which has known the un-' of the eruption of World War concerned.
nations, Mrs. Meir said that
speakable tragedy, humiliation II as a result of irresponsible
"The points I have outlined a solution to the existing
and degradation of the Hitler action.
have one common theme: an problem can be arrived at
era can ever again be silent
Praising Hadassah's "long and attempt to identify and help very quickly, provided it is
over the menace of anti- distinguishing record of sup- meet the hopes of the peoples to be on a basis of Arab
Semitism."
port for human dignity and so- of the Middle East—hopes that recognition of Israel's exist-
Referring to Israel as "a cial welfare both at home and transcend the legacy of com- ence. The moment that is
land of constant immigration," abroad," Bowles, speaking of munical strife and bitterness." acknowledged, peace will be
In a message to the dele-
Mrs. Kramarsky declared that the "hope" that brings confi-
attainable, she stated, pre-
"inasmuch as Israel is also the dence to many areas in the gates, Israel President Itzhak
dicting that the time will
Ben-Zvi
said
he
knows
that
world.
declared:
heart of the Jewish people, Ha-
come soon when Arabs and
"What built Israel if it was "Hadassah is an organization
dassah believes that all Jews
Israel will sit at a round
share responsibility for it." In not hope? What else can ex- which has never sought to
table to talk peace terms.
this work of rescue, compassion plain this rebirth of an old na- rest upon its past glories but
Mrs. Meir declared "there is
and brotherhood, she said "Ha- tion after the passage of cen- has always kept its eyes nothing we want so much as
dassah has been an active part- turies, despite obstacles of trained on the challenge of peace." She stated: "We are
weather, geography and politi- the future."
ner."
President Kennedy, in a prepared overnight to throw all
Mrs. Samuel W. Halprin, cal strife that led the Euro-
our armaments into the sea,"
chairman of the American pean, American and Arab 'real- lengthy message, greeted the and she said that Prime Minis-
section of the Jewish Agency ists' to assert that the dream delegates, stated that "democ- ter Ben-Gurion, with whom she
for Israel, a former national itself was monumental non- racies such as Israel and the conferred earlier that day in
United States must depend
president of Hadassah, spoke sense?"
Supplementary to his pre- upon private assistance," and Zurich, agrees with that aspira-
of the rising tide of interest
tion.
in Jewish education, empha- pared address, which defined declared:
In her glowing tributes to
"Not only Israel, but the
sized that "only a literate State Department policy,
Jew . . . can make his best Bowles made this statement to entire free world benefits from Hadassah, Mrs. Meir stated: "As
such projects as the Hadassah- you enter upon your 51st year,
contribution to American cul- the press:
"As in a number of other Hebrew University Medical remember, there is still a need
ture and civilization," and
declared that Jewish educa- areas of the world, the future Center. Its influence, its train- for a lot of courage—to dream,
tion "must encompass the course of political development ing of students from many to believe, to build. Your great
home, the community and the in the Middle East is volatile countries, its research efforts, organization is linked now as it
religious schools. In the final and uncertain. Yet, despite the all make immensely valuable was in the last 50 years of your
analysis, the school can only fact that our capacity to con- contributions to peace, under- existence, with the practical
introduce; it is the home that trol specific events there, as standing, and human welfare. needs of Israel. You are heart
must follow-through. It is elsewhere, is no more than mar- Your programs of child rescue and soul in spirit with us to
the school that can set forth ginal, I believe there is much work, vocational training, land dare to dream. If we dare
concepts and precepts; it is we can do to promote and reclamation, and education are dream then the dream will
in the home that their trans- underwrite a new sense of hope equally valuable. They fill come true."
Mrs„ Abe Zitomer, one of the
lation from theory into prac- throughout the Middle East urgent needs that can, in most
that alone can eventually bring instances, best be met by volun- Detroit delegates, reported on
tice must take place."
the progress that was made in
But while there is a return a relative measure of stability tary efforts such as yours."
Teams of educators and social her community in advancing
to the synagogue and the par- and progress.
"First: it seems to me that workers are being readied by Hadassah's work through the
ents' recognition "that their
children must be rooted in here, as elsewhere, our para- Youth Aliyah for service in Eye Bank Project. Other Michi-
Jewish life," there also is "a mount aim must be to help all African and Asian countries to gan delegates were active in
movement toward assimilation the nations of the area main- help them meet the needs of the convention's deliberations.