Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 205

CZECHO-SLOVAKIA. The Zionist Federation of Czecho-Slovakia has increased the number of its constituent societies since the 18th Congress. In addition to well-organised branches in the larger and medium-sized towns, there are also groups of Shekel-payers in the smaller communities. If these groups of shekel payers are also included, Zionist work extends over 250 communities. During the period of this Report a Conference took place on December 30th and 31st, 1934, at Mor. Ostrau : it was well attended and left a strong impression. The following were elected on the Executive: Dr. Josef Ruf eisen, Chairman; Dr. Franz Kahn, Vice-Chairman; and Leo Eisner, Friedrich Fraenkel, Dr.. Paul Maerz, Dr. Siegfried Schmitz, Kurt Thieberger, Dr. Henrich Zador. The General Council comprises thirty-two members and thirtyone deputy members, who live in various parts of the Republic. The Presidium of the Council consists of Dr. Walter Kohner (Carlsbad) Chairman, and Herren Aschermann and J. Edelstein (Prague), Vice-Chairmen. There are the following commissions to assist the Executive to carry out special branches of work : Finance, politics, Keren Hayesod, insurance, press, Jewish community, as well as representations on the Palestine Commission and the K.H. and the K.K. commissions. An arbitration court with permanent members has also been appointed. Local political work is looked after independently by the Jewish party of which the Zionists form an essential part. At the last election to the Czecho-Slovakian Parliament, in May, 1935, the representatives of the Jewish party stood as candidates on the list of the Czecho-Slovak Social Democratic party on the basis of a pact which guarantees the independence of the Jewish party for the future also. Dr. A. Goldstein and Dr. Chaim Kugel were elected Parliamentary deputies. The official papers of the Zionist Federation are Selbstewehr (Prague), Zidovske Zpravy (Prague), Die Juedische Stimme and ZJj Sso (Mukacevo). The Youth journals Jung Juda and Jaldut (Czechish), are in close contact with the Federation. The " Hashomer Hazair " issues a fortnightly Haderech. A confidential news, bulletin is issued by the Federation under the title of Zpravy (News). Eres Israel appears as an organ of the K.K. and of the K.H. There are other Zionist institutions that issue papers,, either printed or stencilled, which appear at irregular intervals. Propaganda and cultural work among the societies was particularly vigorous during the past two years. The following visiting speakers may be particularly mentioned : Dr. Walter Fischel, Jerusalem; Ada Fishmann, Dr. N.' Gelber, Jerusalem; Dr. Victor Kellner, Vienna; Dr. Alfred Klee, Berlin; Dr. Zweig, Berlin; K. Blumenfeld, Jerusalem, Dr. Josef Kastein, Dr.. 205