Description

This report gives a resume of the first World Jewish Congress which was held in Geneva from August 8 to 14, 1936. Three hundred delegates from various countries of Europe, Overseas and the United States represented the different communities and Jewish organizations, as well as France, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and the States of the Levant. France sent private institutions but the Israelite Consistory of France like that of Geneva did not officially take part in the Jewish Congress. “The organizers wanted to work for the unification of Judaism scattered around the world …” At the opening session Rabbi Stephen Wise of New York protested against the anti-Semitic measures taken by the German government and called for the continuation of the economic boycott of the Third Reich. Mr. Goldmann, representative of the Jewish Agency to the League of Nations, gave a presentation on the situation of Jews in the world, highlighting anti-Semitic tendencies: “By economic laws and administrative measures of all kinds, the , Jews are prevented from exercising their profession and they are even deprived of normal means of existence “. During the sessions, reports were presented on the economic situation of Jews in Central and Eastern Europe, on Jewish integration, etc. The plenary session on August 2 was devoted to the issue of the Jewish national home in Palestine and the importance of Jewish immigration to Palestine for the solution of the Jewish problem.