B’nai Zion, the American Zionist fraternal order, will dedicate later this month four new projects in Israel, Dr. Harris Levine, president of the B’nai Zion Foundation, reported today at the 57th annual convention.
The projects will bring to 40 the health, welfare and recreational institutions established by the order in Israel, Dr. Levine told the 400 delegates. The new projects are a Maccabi center in Ashdod, a recreational center at Kfar B’nai Zion, a Boy Scout building in Tel Aviv and an addition to the Herzliah Medical Clinic of the Kupat Cholim (medical branch) of the General Zionists.
Dr. Levine also reported that the Foundation had entered into an arrangement with Israel’s Social Welfare Ministry to establish an institute for mentally retarded persons in Rosh Haayin, a community adjacent to Petach Tikvah, for care of 432 retarded patients. B’nai Zion will seek now to raise funds for dormitory buildings and other facilities, he said, having already raised $440,000 for this purpose.
He reported also that B’nai Zion has joined with the Zionist Organization of America, the Farband, Pioneer Women and the Labor Zionist Organization to form a corporate entity to establish day schools in various parts of the United States. Herman Quittrnan, national secretary, cited in his report a record growth in affiliated membership and also announced the start of a “Chai” membership campaign, in recognition of Israel’s 18th anniversary.
President Edward Sharf said, in his annual message, that still greater emphasis would be placed on the American affairs program of B’nai Zion. He cited the annual Bill of Rights award, and student essay contests on civil liberties. He reported that membership contributions to the United Jewish Appeal had “appreciably increased,” and hailed the fact that three Israel investment clubs had been formed to enable members and friends to buy Israeli securities to aid Israel’s economy. He mentioned also formation of a national Bar Mitzvah club, to provide opportunities for Jewish teenagers to spend a summer in Israel.
In a resolution adopted by the convention at its closing session today, the fraternal order lauded the United States for its action in supplying jet bombers to Israel. The convention also hailed U.S-Israel cooperation in the development of a desalting plant in Israel, urging American financial assistance to the project. Another resolution protested the religious and cultural discriminations against Jews in the Soviet Union.
Mr. Sharf was unanimously reelected to a third term as national president of B’nai Zion.
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