Winter 2017 / No. 340

Special Historical Edition Timeline of Contents Winter 2017 / No. 340

This special edition of WIZO Review is comprised of material from historical WIZO publications.

President and Chairman’s Columns Emergency Polish P5 Fund Appeal, Kibbutzim, 1932 1934 WIZO: The Beginning P6 P8 P14

Youth Work P16 The WIZO Pavilion at Flag on the Ghetto Wall, 1944 the Levant P25 Fair, 1934

Reunion after the Deluge, 1946 P11 P27

Message of the Hour, 1948 P44 1930 1920 P10 Power of an Idea, 1933

P34 P12 Tragic Events Glimpse into of June 29th, our Infant 1946 Welfare Work, 1933 P10

2 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW Photo credits: Special thanks to Diana Pollins of WIZO Editor: Ingrid Rockberger Rebecca Sieff WIZO Centre, UK for archival photos, Dorrit Raiter, for 38 David Hamelech Blvd., Cover photo: WIZO nurse helping Assistant Editor: David Sarna Galdi photo of the WIZO Denmark Executive Tel Aviv, refugee children off an immigrant ship 1946 on page 41 and Ros Kaplan of Graphic Design: StudioMooza.com Tel: 03 692 3805 Fax: 03 692 3801 Photos: Government Press Office, Yad WIZO Raanana, who helped us with Internet: www.wizo.org Vashem Photo Archive, Ghetto Fighters' some of the re-typing. Published by World WIZO Publicity Email: [email protected] House Museum Photo Archive and Communications Division

Mrs. Sieff’s Statement 1935 WIZO They Came From before UNSCOP, Conference Teheran, 1943 WIZO at the 1947 Atlith Clearance P37 P15 P18 Camp, 1945

P31 Escape from Round Our Student the Nazi Federations, Nurses, Inferno, 1943 1946 1949

P21 P40 P50

WIZO Women Let My People in the Yishuv Come, 1946 Parliament, 1944 P29 P24

P30 P7

P20

1940 P28 1950 Rebecca Sieff Presidential Rebecca Sieff P49 Address, 1943 in the DP camps, 1946 Wanderings P36 of the Baby Partisans Home, 1949 at WIZO P45 Schools, P23 1946 WIZO Federations Solidarity P30 Voice Their P17 with Ramat Joy, 1948 P17 Hakovesh, 1943 WIZO Woman The White on Hunger Paper, 1939 Strike, 1946

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 3 From the Editor

Dear Chaverot How heartbreaking it is to read accounts of events in Germany and Eastern Europe in the 1930s, leading up to the Holocaust –how Poland was our biggest and most vibrant federation with 10,000 members across the country. You will read heartbreaking This is a different WIZO Review and a stories from the Second World War, including one of a young very special one. WIZO woman who escaped the Nazi inferno.

We are taking you on a journey – from But after World War II, WIZO regenerated - starting in the Displaced the establishment of the Women’s Persons Camps in post-war Europe. It is indeed amazing and International Zionist Organization inspirational to read accounts how, after all their suffering and (WIZO) in London in 1920, through the dark years of the 1930s and family losses, WIZO women found each other in the DP camps, 1940s and ending in 1948 when the State of Israel was established. and came together in the WIZO spirit to help each other and other You will see how our leaders throughout all these years planned survivors. and adapted WIZO’s activities according to the needs of the country, from agricultural and home economics courses, care for And here in Eretz Yisrael, both during the war and immediately abandoned babies, assistance with new immigrants and having a afterwards, WIZO women were prominent in helping the refugees woman’s voice in parliament. to start a new life.

For some time I had known that there were some old WIZO We must take a step back and look from afar…how WIZO grew magazines in the National Library on the Hebrew University so rapidly from its inception in 1920. Without the technology we Campus in Jerusalem. have today, those devoted, committed women with a mission – created and developed a world movement in a comparatively Recently, Assistant Editor David Sarna Galdi and I went on a short time. mission to find what was there. Our quest took four visits of many hours each time.

With advances in technology, over the years, the library website has been upgraded with the result that we could do some searches on-line, order what we wanted to see, and the relevant Ingrid Rockberger materials were brought up ‘from the dungeons’ and were waiting Editor for us in a designated reading room.

And what treasures we found! In this issue, we present you with extracts from some of these publications; some are the original scans we did, some we have shortened and re-typed.

The articles are taken from: Pioneers & Helpers, Palestine WIZO WIZO Around the World is not included in this magazine; it Newsletter, WIZO Readers Digest and WIZO Review, spanning will be issued as a supplement on-line. years from 1932 to 1950.

World WIZO Executive Resident in Israel

President Chairperson, WIZO Israel Human Resources Division Publicity & Communications Division Esther Mor Gila Oshrat Chairperson: Tirtza Rubinsky Chairperson and Editor, WIZO Review: Ingrid Rockberger Hon. Life Presidents Building & Maintenance Division Information Technology Division Raya Jaglom Chairperson: Nili Amit Chairperson: Israela Titelboim Beit Heuss Helena Glaser Chairperson: Saya Malkin Tova Ben-Dov Early Age Division Organization & Tourism Division Chairperson: Avital Blumenthal Chairperson: Janine Gelley Parents Home Chairperson of the Executive Deputy: Dalia Ganz Chairperson: Rikki Cohen Prof. Rivka Lazovsky Education Division Chairperson: Dr Carmela Dekel Property, Purchasing & Insurance Division Public Diplomacy & Hasbarah Treasurer Chairperson: Batsheva Schwartz Rolene Marks Fundraising Division Gila Cohen Special Projects Chairperson: Anita Friedman Tricia Schwitzer

4 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW President’s Desk Chairperson’s Column

Dear Friends, Dear Chaverot, One of WIZO's greatest strengths lies in The greatest Zionist visionary, Theodor its ability to carry out its daily work, while Herzl wrote in 1901, “What is the role continuously evolving, developing and of women in ? I will not say adapting itself to the national pulse and ‘nothing’ but what could it be, what addressing the needs of the hour. should it be? Perhaps everything. And We owe this strength to our founding if we follow the right path towards this mothers, their vision and aspirations. aim, it will be.” They looked way beyond the horizon We proudly look back at the truly and considering the times they lived in – what they achieved life-saving work of WIZO’s founders whose vision precluded the was miraculous. glorious imprint of the creation of the State of Israel as we know it. They had no representation in Parliament or Government, no social In WIZO’s infancy, in the years from 1921 to 1933, our pioneering laws to support equality or women's rights in general, no State of foremothers rolled up their sleeves and mobilized out of sheer Israel, no technology… necessity for the women and children of Palestine who were living They did not have the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. In under the most horrendous conditions. Malnutrition, disease and a male dominated society, they were brought up to be the perfect stillbirth were rife, and mothers were encouraged to give birth to wife and mother - no more. Higher studying, a profession, or an babies in hospitals under the supervision of doctors. occupation was not the norm - only women of the lower classes The Tipat Chalav’ (drop of milk) childcare clinics, with trained nurses left the house to work. Their husbands may have encouraged to take care of the mothers and babies, attracted large numbers of them to join reading clubs or similar, but were probably somewhat mothers and mothers-to-be who received fresh pasteurized milk. embarrassed by their aspirations and later actions. At these centers, the women of Palestine also received training in We may see Rebecca Sieff, Dr. Vera Weizmann, Edith Eder, Romana mothercraft, childcare, cleanliness and hygiene. Goodman and others as pioneers and heroines, but back then– In 1923, WIZO opened an agricultural school at Nahalal, the very even when they were allowed to be members of the Zionist movement – no one actually expected them to say or do anything. first in Palestine, where women were taught how to grow their Yet, they wanted more out of life for themselves and for other own vegetables and fruit so that they could put food on the table. members of the societies in which they lived. After they visited Eretz It is impossible for us to even begin to imagine the hardships faced Israel, they could no longer ignore their calling. They had vision, by our sisters in pre-state Palestine but the pioneering spirit of passion, chutzpa and the burning desire to help others - so they WIZO that built the foundations of a nation lives on and today, in created something from nothing – WIZO - and the rest is history. 2017, it continues on that very same path that Herzl envisaged. When challenges seem overwhelming – remember our WIZO We can all take pride that we walk that path in the steps of great founding mothers' wisdom, spirit and the obstacles they had to visionaries, and continue in the pioneering spirit as we strengthen overcome. Draw strength from their strength and common sense the citizens of the State of Israel for a better tomorrow. to continue WIZO's sacred task for the children, youth and women in Israel. With warmest wishes, Warm regards. Prof. Rivka Lazovsky Chairperson, World WIZO Executive Esther Mor President, World WIZO

World WIZO Executive Presidents or Chairpersons of Federations

Publicity & Communications Division Argentina Nicole Kovalivker Curaçao Yael Ackerman Hong Kong Shani Brownstein, Paraguay Rosana Baràn Chairperson and Editor, Australia Paulette Cherny Czech Republic Eva Kosakova Marissa Raccah Peru Michelle Lumbroso WIZO Review: Ingrid Rockberger Austria Dr. Hava Bugajer Denmark Dorrit Raiter Hungary Kate Köves Liliana Lemor India Yael Jhirad Beit Heuss Belgium & Varda Cywie, Estonia Revekka Blumberg Singapore S. J. Khafi Chairperson: Saya Malkin Luxembourg Nathalie Miodownik, Finland Ann Wardi Italy Ester (Silvana) Israel South Africa Monyeen Castle Isabelle Steinkalik France Joelle Lezmi Jamaica Jennifer (McAdam) Lim Spain Astrid Mizrachi Parents Home Bolivia Liliana Swerdszarf Germany Simone Graumann Japan Sarah Hyams Sweden Susanne Sznajderman-Rytz Chairperson: Rikki Cohen Brazil Silene Balassiano Gibraltar Julie Massias Latvia Hana Finkelstein Switzerland Eva Wyler Bulgaria Marina Nanjova Public Diplomacy & Hasbarah Greece Gratciella Bourla Lithuania Rachel Kostanian Canada Debbie Eisenberg Konstandinis United Kingdom Michele Pollock Rolene Marks Mexico Alegre Smeke Chile Agnes Mannheim Guatemala Ruth Sibony Azulay United States Jana Falic New Zealand Lorna Orbell Gail Perl Special Projects Colombia Deborah Sterimberg Holland Joyce Y. Numann - Norway Janne Jaffe Hesstvedt Tricia Schwitzer Costa Rica Anita Ligator Durlacher Uruguay Sara Laks Trachtenberg Lisa Davidovich Honduras Yaeli Zylberman Panama Betty Btesh Venezuela Ena Rotkopf

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 5 Historical background

WIZO: The Beginning The growth of the movement, rather than linear, was a convergence of leaders and groups resolved to empower women in a Jewish state

Before there was WIZO, there were several women’s Zionist groups in 19th century England aimed at supporting the Jewish community in Palestine and spreading Zionism, which had gained support in the wake of the pogroms that swept Jewish communities in Russia in the 1880s. By 1890, some 30 such groups existed in England and when Theodor Herzl called the first Zionist Congress in 1897 women were represented by several delegates.

Rebecca Marks, born in 1890 to the wealthy Marks family (founders The first WIZO conference. Rebecca Sieff sits 4th from the left of the British retail giant Marks & Spencer) attended Manchester University, where she met her future Rebecca Sieff, Vera Weizmann, and accompanied by their wives, husband, Israel Sieff, who she Romana Goodman. These women, travelled to Palestine in 1918, the married in 1910. unsatisfied, petitioned the federation Yishuv consisted of religious Jews, arguing that women of the future mostly impoverished, living off of In 1904, Dr. Chaim Weizmann Jewish state must be provided “with charitable contributions, known accompanied by his (future) wife equality of opportunity in action and as “Halukah Jews.” There were Vera, took a job as a lecturer in decision making” and that only also young Zionist pioneers from at Manchester University. a separate organisation of Zionist Europe. There was a desperate Manchester, where there was women could awaken women to need for trained, skilled women already an organized Jewish Zionist their national Jewish consciousness. in the home and on agricultural community, became a center of the settlements. Rebecca Sieff was Zionist movement and Weizmann Rebecca Sieff envisioned a much determined, back in England, to acquired a circle of local supporters, greater role for women in the expand the unique role of women in including Harry Sacher, Simon newborn movement. In 1918, the the Zionist effort. Marks and Israel Sieff. Meeting year after the Balfour Declaration socially, the wives of these men (1917), she enlisted the help of In April 1920, Rebecca Sieff was became part of the debates and women like Vera Weizmann, also present in San Remo when activities and conceived of their Edith Eder, and Lady Samuel, the Balfour Declaration was made own role in the sculpting of Jewish “remarkable wives of remarkable into international law and the history. men,” to create the FWZ Mandate for Palestine was given to (Federation of Women Zionists). Great Britain. Immensely moved A “ladies committee” established and spurred on by the power of within the framework of the When the Zionist Commission, the momentous event, and having British Zionist Federation included headed by Chaim Weizmann, realized that England would now the future founders of WIZO - Dr. David Eder and Israel Sieff, be the focus and ground zero of the

6 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW Zionist struggle, Sieff made great WIZO take on the establishment efforts to convene what would be of a women’s training farm. The the founding conference of the goal was only realized after enough Women’s International Zionist funds were raised and The JNF Movement on July 11th 1920, at the gave WIZO 500 dunams of land Russell Hotel in London. at the settlement of Nahalal. Thus, in 1923, WIZO founded its first In attendance at the meeting were agricultural school. During the women from Germany, Holland, 1920s more training farms sprouted Poland, South Africa, American at Nachlat Yehuda (1922), Petach Hadassah, Russia and Palestine. Tikvah (1923) and Afula (1926), At this conference it was decided which was the first to benefit from that the new organization should WIZO direct funding. promote the wellbeing of women and children in Palestine, that The development of WIZO’s it should be extra-political and federations is no less remarkable should be a part of the Zionist than its own growth from a core Organization. That same year, group of British women. Jewish Henrietta Szold, the founder of women in Vienna had organized American Hadassah, met with a as early as 1903. In 1921, they group of women in Jerusalem to participated in the first WIZO organize assistance to poor mothers conference in and shortly after Vera Weizmann and children in Palestine. Out were incorporated as the WIZO Geneva. There were no WIZO of that group was born the HNI Austria Federation. The French conferences during the Second (Histadrut Nashim Ivriot), which federation of WIZO was founded World War, just as there were no operated independently for more in 1924. After the Nazi invasion Zionist Congresses. The 11th WIZO than a decade but would, after in June 1940, WIZO France conference, held in Basel in 1946, several incarnations, became the went underground and created featured a memorial to all the WIZO “Palestine Federation of WIZO” a clandestine service for the women who had perished. The and later, WIZO Israel. The HNI placement of children, a heroic biggest issue of the day was Jewish was responsible for the practical effort to save the lives of Jewish refugees in DP camps and the most welfare work and institutions, children being deported. The significant resolution to emerge infant welfare stations, agricultural German WIZO Federation came from this meeting was a decision on schools and neighborhood centers, into being in 1929 and continued Aliyah, stressing that every effort be that would eventually become until 1933, when Hitler came to made to absorb, educate and train the backbone of WIZO’s work in power, only reconvening in 1960. immigrant women in Palestine by Palestine. The HNI established a WIZO federations were established the expansion of existing WIZO network of “infant welfare stations” in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and programs and institutions. under the management of Dr. Panama in 1926. In Mexico, in Helena Kagan, the “tipat halav” 1938, a group of Jewish Sephardic There was no WIZO conference in (drop of milk) initiative, by which women established a Zionist 1948, when Israeli independence fresh, hygienic milk for babies was Women’s Committee, shortly was declared, but a special World distributed around Jerusalem, a followed by a sister WIZO group of WIZO Executive meeting was held home for abandoned babies in 1925, Ashkenazi women. The Hadassah- in February 1949 to celebrate the and an agricultural school for girls WIZO organization of Canada was historic moment. At this meeting, in 1924. founded in 1917. Other federations the decision was made to move the sprouted in places as unexpected headquarters of World WIZO from The first official World WIZO as Barbados, Jamaica, Gibraltar, London to Tel Aviv and Rebecca conference took place in Karlsbad, Trinidad, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Sieff herself settled in Israel soon Germany, in September 1921, Hong Kong. after. attended by 31 delegates from 13 countries. At that conference, The 8th WIZO conference in 1935, WIZO’s next conference, held in Hannah Maisel-Shochat, a pioneer was the first to be held in Palestine. 1951, would be its first in a Jewish in the training of young Jewish The last pre-war WIZO conference, state, a realization of its greatest women in agriculture, proposed that in August 1939, took place in dream.

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 7 Pioneers & Helpers, December 1932

8 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 9 Pioneers & Helpers, December 1933 The Power of the Idea by Edith Eder *From a speech by Mrs. Eder at the Inaugural gathering of members and friends of the F.W.Z., London Dec. 12, 1933

"We have met here tonight at a bitter moment for the Jewish people. In the German tragedy, we Zionists looked to Palestine; and in Palestine it is a tragedy the immigration is at the moment so restricted…It is now for us Zionist women to take stock of the Zionist position for ourselves. "Even in the face of all difficulties, Palestine remains for all Jews, and more particularly for Zionists, the one place of hope in this world, the one spot to which we can look with confidence, open for Jewish immigration, and adequate still for a very large increase in population. I would remind you of one salient aspect: in 1919, shortly after the close of the War, there were roughly about 56,000 Jews in Palestine; today there are nearly 250,000 Jews in Palestine… Girls working at the WIZO agricultural training center in Afula "We Zionists have held from the beginning that Palestine is the place where the Jew might develop his countless generations of ordinary there and what we do not want, and own values and possess his own women in whose hands that to develop a full, conscious sense of soul; might stand erect and declare traditions of her people have been Zionism. that his mistakes and his triumphs cherished, in whose guardianship are his own and not derived from has been the faithful keeping of the "Let us give ourselves the duty, the nation amongst whom he Jewish spirit… those of us who cannot raise big happens to live. He has the chance sums, of studying the Jewish of working out new and modern "The main business of the Zionist position today, Palestine in all values, in accordance not with the woman today is thus to make its aspects, the whole ideal and peoples amongst whom he happens herself mistress of the Zionist the idea of what Zionism means idea and ideal, and the way in to settle, but in accordance with his to us, so that no week passes own inherent capacities. which these can be worked out in Palestine, and to communicate that without a deepening of the idea, a strengthening of our own small "If that is true, I ask myself: what is idea. It is false to think that unless section of the organisation. We must the business of us women Zionists? members are on an Executive or engaged in collecting money, there ensure a renaissance of the Zionist "It is often felt by us women: 'We is nothing for Zionist women to do. ideal. I remember the words of do the practical work, and we leave The most important work of all is to Israel Zangwill – 'The real tragedy the ideas to the men!' But as far as get together and re-interpret to one of the Jewish people would be, to my knowledge of Jewish history another this modern Zionist ideal, be persecuted for 2,000 years for an goes, that has never been the role of to study Palestine and to find out idea, and at the end of that time to the Jewish woman…I think of the what values we desire to cultivate prove unworthy of the idea."

10 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW Pioneers & Helpers, July 1934 The WIZO Pavilion at the Levant Fair, Tel Aviv by Nadia Stein

One of the most attractive of all the really beautiful structures that graced the Levant fair this year was the WIZO pavilion. As a motto for the pavilion [WIZO] chose the following: “Domestic Work: a House That is Practically Equipped is Easy to Run.” On a table fixed to and running around the walls of the pavilion were set out a number of most useful articles for running a modern house, most of which were but little known or 1934 Levant Fair used previously in the country. These an hour, 8-10 kilos of linen – soaking, washing, The Levant Fair began as a series of modest commercial ranged from cleaning materials, fairs held for the first time in 1914, in various locations brushes and chemicals to rational boiling, rinsing, bluing, around Tel Aviv, meant to draw attention to the industry cooking utensils and cookery. The drying and ironing manufacture of many of these with only a very little and produce of the Yishuv in Palestine. As the fair grew articles has only recently been assistance on the part in size and attendance, the British Mandate saw fit to started in the country, and thanks to of the laundress and at allocate for it 10 dunams on the Yarkon River in the the recommendations made in this very little cost… North of Tel Aviv. The 1934 fair housed 1,225 exhibitors way by the WIZO, many visitors and was visited by 600,000 people. Its buildings became acquainted with these new In the canvas roofed were masterpieces of modernist design, reflecting the objects of tozereth haaretz and their children’s corner of European and contemporary origins use… the WIZO Pavilion, furnished with and sensibilities of the Jews immigrating to Palestine. A good deal of the restricted space miniature furniture, was devoted to the crucial points straw mats and of the Palestinian kitchen – the dainty and useful problem of the replacement of… toys, tiny children whose mothers the ordinary oil-cooker, by up-to- wished to visit the exhibition date model gas-cookers or electrical were looked after at the cost of The day began early in the forenoon stoves and equipment…The method a few piasters by kindergarten with demonstrations and lectures of advertising anti-fly measures instructresses. This is in itself an in household management given in which is a real nuisance in many of illustration of one of the foremost the WIZO Pavilion. At five o’clock the agricultural settlements, was one principles of the WIZO – to assist there was a public meeting in the of [WIZO’s] most original ideas… the working mother to look after Exhibition amphitheatre which was All kinds of useful household hints her children and to leave her free attended by large numbers of women were demonstrated at a veritable to follow new ideas and to become from the outlying groups. Lady magician’s table. more and more progressive. Samuel, who was warmly acclaimed, was the first to address the The laundry demonstration attracted Women’s Day at the Tel Aviv Fair gathering. She referred with a warm a great number of people, especially On the 31st of May, the Levant Fair satisfaction to the progress of the the electrical washing machine was given over to the women. The work of the upbuilding, especially displayed by a Czecho-Slovakian Palestine WIZO fixed this date as a in regard to the work of the WIZO, firm. This machine can turn out with (Hebrew) women’s day and drew up which she had seen during her a most excellent finish in less than a full programme for the day. travels through the country.

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 11 Pioneers & Helpers, May 1933

12 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 13 Pioneers & Helpers, April 1934 The Polish Kibbutzim by Romana Goodman

My recent visit with Mrs Sieff to Poland has afforded me the opportunity of examining the conditions of the girls and boys in the Kibbutzim at first hand. I was able to see three centres in the district of Cracow, two in Lemberg [Lvov], four in Warsaw and three in Lodz. The history of Hachsharah in Poland is, on account of its long and varied experiences, one of considerable interest. In view of the fact that Poland has remained the greatest reservoir of Halutzoth, these Polish Kibbutzim are of exceptional importance. A Zionist youth group in pre-war Poland The object to reproduce in these WIZO promotes Zionist training settlements the conditions under in Europe which the pioneers will be expected the various aspects and problems of A resolution was passed at the 7th to live in Palestine, is carried out the Zionist Movement. WIZO Conference in Prague in 1933 by the young people themselves in to examine the possibility of setting up that spirit of self-sacrifice which we The only reward to which they WIZO Hachsharah (agricultural training) are wont to expect of Halutzim and all look forward, wistfully and schemes in Poland and other countries in Halutzoth. To those who have not hopefully, is to obtain a certificate Eastern Europe. Rebecca Sieff seen these settlements it is hard to to enter Palestine – to them, indeed, and Romana Goodman conducted a realise the severe conditions under the Promised Land – and thus to fact-finding mission in April 1934. which these young people – many attain the objective for which they of them sons and daughters of have labored, some of them for middle-class parents – submit in a several years. high-spirited way to a daily routine of long hours, while badly housed I have, of course, been particularly and badly fed. interested in the three Halutzoth It makes one’s heart rejoice to see groups composed entirely of girls, these young people at song and A simple building accommodates two of them under WIZO, auspices dance after an arduous day’s work, them all, and the work is done (Cracow and Warsaw). and it is also then possible to realise jointly. In so far as the girls are what extraordinarily fine human concerned, they do their work not In consequence, all those who material we have at hand. only in factories, laundries and are members of Hechaluz regard dress-making establishments but, themselves as of one class – those Would that the Women’s as a matter of course, attend to the who live by the work of their International Zionist Organisation cooking, clearing up, washing and own hands. They are the finest should be able to lessen the mending of clothes for the . manifestation of simple living and hardships in these Kibbutzim and In the evenings, when they might high thinking that I have ever seen. contribute its share to speed the be expected to be “free,” they The lasting impression I have taken aspirations of those who look study Hebrew, Jewish History, the away with me from these groups are forward as their highest hope to geography of Palestine and discuss radiant faces and hardy hearts. settle in Eretz Israel!

14 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WIZO Pioneers and Helpers, May 1935 First World WIZO Conference in Eretz Israel Over 300 delegates assemble in Tel Aviv to address current challenges and the state of world Jewry

They came from all over the world movement has lifted the Jewish caused by government regulations, including Greece, Egypt, Syria, woman from the obscurity in which monies having to be allocated for Lithuania, Poland, Belgium, China, she had dwelt for so many centuries, ‘maintenance of projects’ training Chile, Estonia, South Africa, and today has placed her side by courses etc. Another item in the Switzerland, England, Yugouslavia side with her menfolk as an equal report was headed "unforseen," – the list goes on. worker and factor in the upbuilding which also included unforeseen of the new land of Israel.” donations which, of course, were More than 350 delegates from 25 extremely welcome! countries (including nearly 100 from “Young WIZO” delegates had Poland) converged on Tel Aviv for held their own conference several Re-organisation of the Executives the 8th World WIZO Conference days before the main conference – abroad was debated at length and the in March 1935. This was not only subjects discussed were: affiliating subject of membership…one of the the first WIZO conference to be young groups in all countries with delegates from Cracow remonstrated held in Eretz Israel but the first their senior WIZO groups, the with the ladies, “In 1929 at the ever conference of any Zionist amalgamation of all Young WIZO 5th conference, WIZO had 45,000 body to be held in the country. organisations into an International members; today we have only At the time, Poland was WIZO's Young WIZO Organisation. One of 15,000 more, despite the intense largest federation with over 10,000 the fears expressed was that if the interest in Eretz Yisrael. 60,000 members. WIZO seniors ‘did not let them in’, members is very little.” There was This conference had been called WIZO would go the way of other a call from many federations to a year earlier than scheduled due Zionist organisations i.e. would increase the budget for propaganda to the deteriorating situation in stop with its founding generation. [publicity] materials to help Germany under the Hitler regime. Fortunately, it didn’t! increase membership – booklets One of WIZO’s main activities and brochures were needed in many during this period was to set up In her address, Vera Weizmann, languages. agricultural training farms on who had been resident in Palestine Continental Europe and try to obtain for some months, stressed the Other sessions included Reports as many immigration certificates as difficulties facing the Yishuv and of the Palestine and "Galuth" possible from the British Mandatory the problems arising between the Executives, Hachashara plans for Government to enable girls to come veteran residents and newcomers. the future, especially in Germany to Eretz Israel; their preparatory However, she marveled at “the and Poland, welfare and rights for training would enable them to earn bulk of the work which has been women and children in Palestine a living once they arrived. The call achieved under very difficult – and the conference ended with a went out to include more girls from circumstances and through the resounding 51 resolutions on various Germany in these courses. medium of a voluntary movement matters! without any state aid is amazing, At the opening ceremony, in little short of a miracle.” After the conference, sensing the addition to WIZO Executive black curtain which was about members, distinguished guests In the Finance Report, difficulties to descend, many of the Eastern included David Ben Gurion and Dr. were reported about receipt of European delegates, especially from Chaim Weizmann. In his speech, quotas from some countries – Poland, did not return home. They Ben Gurion stated: “The Zionist some (mainly in Eastern Europe) were the lucky ones.

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 15 WIZO Review No. 4, 1938-39

16 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW The White Paper Issued by the British government on May 17th 1939, the White Paper WIZO Review No.4, 1938-39 rejected the Peel Commission's partition plan for Palestine, declaring that the future country would be neither Jewish nor Arab and that Jewish immigration and land acquisition should be limited and subject to Arab consent. Zionist groups and leaders reacted with vocal opposition and street demonstrations.

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 17 WIZO Reader’s Digest, June 1943 They Came From Teheran by Nanny Margulies-Auerbach

going south; and there, many who had managed to survive the The Teheran Children frozen steppes, succumbed to the After the outbreak of WWII in September 1939, hundreds of thousands of Jews fled Poland to the Soviet Union. Because epidemics prevalent in the warmer of starvation, disease and Soviet arrests, many Polish Jewish climate. Still, these tragic victims refugee children were left orphaned. These children were placed in struggled on and succeeded in orphanages across the Soviet Union. In the summer of 1941, Britain getting as far as the Persian frontier and the Soviet Union occupied Iran, making it a pipeline for allied supplies and refugees. – Teheran – their first port of refuge. And here they had to stay, Among a group of thousands of Polish refugees sent to Iran in for over a year. More hardship, 1942, was a group of about 1,000 Jewish children, later known more heartrending suspense, and as the "Teheran Children" who had travelled by train from across the USSR to Pahlavi, a port city in Iran. The Jewish Agency, upon then scarcely a breathed hope – learning about the existence of a large group of Jewish orphan that the last journey which would children in the USSR, maneuvered to have them collected in a end their suffering, the journey to special facility, sheltered, cared for and in January and August Eretz Israel, would soon begin. 1943, sent by ship from Iran, via Pakistan and Suez, to the Atlit refugee camp in Palestine, where they were welcomed by Again their hopes were dashed; Jews of the Yishuv and placed in kibbutzim. permission for transit was refused. This meant another long journey on a roundabout route, accompanied by the dangers of bombing and of a mined sea. There were insufficient transport ships, more delays, until It is strange that certain events can like a herd of animals…And very at last, they set out on the long trek still stir us to the very depths of our slowly, the ice that cramped their to Eretz Israel. They travelled first being, even at a time when every hearts begins to thaw a little, by boat, then by rail, reached the morning is darkened by new reports and they talk a little and they tell frontier at night and crossed the of gruesome deeds that outdo the some of their adventures, their border-line into Eretz Israel, the murderous rage of war…Yet from experiences, their visions – and we border-line to freedom. time to time, the inconceivable stand aghast, for these things are happens: out of the cauldron of beyond imagination. Who can fully Their story is indescribable. It the European hell, a few victims understand the tragic fate of these is a gruesome, ghastly "dance manage to escape and reach the wanderers? It is hard to understand of death"; one compares it with sheltering haven of Eretz Israel. how many of them survived at Dante's Inferno, and finds Dante's And we in Palestine, privileged to all, after all that they had endured imagination wholly inadequate. be the first to offer them assistance, during their escape from the Nazis One man with three children lost extend a welcoming hand to them, – starvation, years of wandering, his wife en route; a woman had to and wonder again and again, hard labour, constant illness. During leave her husband and child behind whether this is reality or only an their three years of wandering, they her; there are tiny children whose evil dream. had never slept in a bed, not even in parents died from hunger on the hospital. For clothing, pieces of rags way, clinging together, taking care Another group is just arriving were stitched together. They had no of each other, grown prematurely – 1,200 human beings of whom shoes, for these had been sold to get old. 850 are children; they have been a little milk for the children. wandering for over three years, Yet, these human beings have and now they are to stay here, no In Russia, they had to trudge for survived. Miracles, such as could longer hunted, no longer to be miles on foot, to find a railway never be staged in a film or play packed together and sent away station and to try to board a train have taken place before our eyes.

18 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW A group of the Teheran children after reaching Palestine

One woman, who came with her the WIZO, were among the first to been called upon to restore the faith 14-year-old daughter, had found her take a big share in the care of the in humanity of a whole generation. son, whom she had thought lost, at arrivals. Many of the babies are Now it must heal and revive human the Persian frontier. Another had now in WIZO's Baby Home. At the wrecks, bring up children whose caught a glimpse of her husband, Ayanoth Girls' Training Farm, there parents have been murdered, from whom she had not heard for is a large group of young girls, and educate youngsters whose minds over a year, in the carriage of a many of these youngsters are guests have been darkened and who have passing train. Other women had in our hostels, or have been given been physically neglected. The been helped in their escape by hospitality in the private homes WIZO will have to train the young German soldiers. Their stories of WIZO chaveroth. Nourishing girls to earn their living, girls who, pierced our hearts with their intense food and inexpensive luncheons for years, have known no home, drama and their profound tragedy. are provided in WIZO kitchens, no school, who have been without How strong is the human heart to and WIZO Advisory Bureaux are clothing and without food, girls bear all this! What great spiritual already finding jobs for those able whose minds have been endangered courage had those women who, to take up work, and giving the through the sight of murder and in forsaken barracks in Siberia, newcomers assistance, advice and suffering, and through contact with covered the holes which served guidance. evil surroundings. Youthfulness and as windows with tiny bits of laughter must be restored to these curtaining, found some odd bits of How great is our pleasure when tragic faces, grown prematurely old. material to act as tablecloths and they tell us that it is the warmth made Sabbath candles out of cotton and sisterly compassion with which Can there be a greater task? Can and wood, in order to create for we welcome them, more than even women in the whole world do a their loved ones a warm, human material assistance, that is helping more important deed, in the midst atmosphere, above the horrors of them, encouraging them and easing of war, than set themselves to reality. their way back to life. transform these shipwrecked souls into normal human beings, to help Every town, every little village in The greatness of our task sometimes them build, in safety, a home for Eretz Israel is taking its share in frightens us for, although WIZO has themselves and for their people? helping to make these refugees an always cared for children, trained Ours is indeed a giant task. integral part of the constructive young girls and advised middle- national life of the Yishuv. We, of aged women, it has never before

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 19 WIZO Readers Digest, November, 1943

Presidential Address by Mrs. I. M. Sieff at the Annual Conference of the Federation of Women Zionists

to think what life must be in that "We have to realize that the war constant ghastly nightmare. And which Hitler and the Nazis have yet from the silence in which our declared on the Jewish People, is people are enclosed, as almost in a a war on two fronts: a war whose tomb, an occasional voice breaks objects are to exterminate all of through. And amongst these voices our people who come within their there are some which belong to physical reach and to destroy the women who worked with us in morale of our people everywhere… the WIZO, over the past years, voices of women whom we met "But we can say, as often before in in conference, whom we met in our history, that Hitler has failed Palestine, with whom we were in to paralyse the will of the Jewish constant touch and communication. People, or to break its morale. And we are inspired by the courage For everywhere there are signs and fortitude, the spirit of resistance of greater spiritual resistance, or which these voices reveal. Alas, greater cohesion and unity… we do not know the subsequent fate of our colleagues, since these "There is, indeed, a greater Rebecca Sieff communications take months to awareness of the Jewish problems reach us. Yet these voices reveal the which face us all, a greater "We meet under the shadow of the depth of their spiritual resistance consciousness of what Palestine terrible fate that has befallen our and the deep longing of those means as a focal point in their people in Europe; in the knowledge entombed to get in touch with the solution. And this development is that our people have suffered outside world, to know what we taking place all over the world… a calamity which transcends in are doing and what is being done in "I am sure you will be greatly magnitude all those tragic events Eretz Israel. encouraged to know that the in the centuries of long-drawn-out progress in the Federation is agony of our people. The lives "And I like to think, if any of paralleled in every federation and of millions of our brethren, men, our women were in the ghetto of group of the WIZO all over the women and children are being Warsaw when the last heroic stand world. WIZO, as you know, is a blotted out in the coldest, most was made, that they fought side by global organization, if I may use calculating, most foul massacre side with their menfolk. Indeed, we this modern term, and its federations that has ever blackened man's evil are sure that when the tales are told are far-flung all over the world. record. And if it is true, as we have of the heroism of that last stand, The same spirit which is moving recently been told by one who and the heroism of daily life in the you is animating all our federations escaped the ghetto of Warsaw, that ghetto – many of them will relate and groups the world over; for not one single Jewish child remains the efforts of our women to look we have been able, at long last, to alive in Poland, then indeed evil after the welfare of all behind its penetrate, especially in South and has reached its apotheosis and walls and to keep the remnants of Central America, to communities the darkest depth of man's mind social life in being. For these are which seemed almost inaccessible, plumbed. the same women, trained in WIZO work, who when Nazism spread not only physically but who lived "Imagine what life must be for over Europe before war broke out, in a kind of moral isolation through those of our people who still survive faced the Gestapo and death, but which one could not break." under the shadow of the Nazi held their communities together menace. It is almost inconceivable when all else seemed to fall apart.

20 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WIZO Readers Digest, March 1943

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 21 22 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW Palestine WIZO Newsletter October/December 1943 Solidarity with Ramat HaKovesh

The search for arms undertaken by The Palestine WIZO at its last the plantation of the J.N.F. Ramat the Police at the Ramat HaKovesh delegates’ meeting also adopted HaKovesh Forest for which a drive kibbutz, that exposed settlement the resolution to participate with was launched immediately after the which has become a symbol of a contribution of 1,000 trees in incident. undaunted pioneering because of its heroic self-defense during the Disturbances, has been regarded by the whole Yishuv as an insufferable Ramat HaKovesh affront and a discriminating A kibbutz in the central region of Israel, whose name means encroachment upon its inviolable “conqueror’s hill,” was founded by Polish Zionist youth right to self-protection. In a movement members in 1932, but moved to its permanent letter to the kibbutz the Palestine and current location in 1936. The kibbutz, from its founding, WIZO Federation joined with the suffered from ongoing attacks. On November 16th, 1943, British Mandate Authorities forcibly entered the kibbutz, declarations of solidarity from all searching for illegal weapons. Kibbutz members resisted the Jewish sections and groups in this British forces, leading to a violent country: confrontation. One kibbutznik, Shmuel Vellinetz, was killed while several others we “The Palestine WIZO Federation re wounded. joins in the protest of the Yishuv against the action taken by the Police at Ramat HaKovesh. We are one with you, Haverim and Haveroth, in your indignation at the insult sustained by you, and in your grief at the loss of one of your best members, Shmuel Vellinetz, who died as a result of the assault.

“This attack on your settlement recalls to our minds the memory of those haverim and haveroth who fell victims to the Disturbances of 1936/39 while protecting your kibbutz and the honour of the Yishuv at large.

“As Jewish women we are proud of the Haveroth of Ramat HaKovesh who have once again defended the settlement against aggression.

“May the attitude of the Yishuv and its determination to act in the same spirit be a source of encouragement to you in this grave hour. Be strong and firm!” Students and armed Jewish youth protecting the WIZO youth village in pre-state Afula

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 23 WIZO in Politics In 1930 the Federation of Hebrew Women, an early WIZO Readers Digest September 1944 incarnation of WIZO in Palestine, ran in the elections to the Assefat Hanivcharim the (pre-state) Jewish Yishuv, and won three seats. In , the elected assembly of the assembly's fourth elections, in 1944, WIZO ran together with the Women's League for Equal Rights and won four seats. Both times, Rachel Cohen-Kagan was WIZO WIZO's representative. Once the State of Israel became independent, Cohen WOMEN Kagan led a WIZO-related party which won IN THE one seat in the first and fifth parliaments. NEW PARLIAMENT OF THE YISHUV third seat went to Mrs. Michal Eisenberg, Chairman for many years of the Rehobot group and prominent in the social work of her community, as a representative of our rural membership; and Women's rights can only be safeguarded the fourth to Mrs. Sara Ashbel, by women. Give your vote to HNZ - WIZO Director of the Welfare Dept. of the List "N." Jerusalem Kehilla.

The elections held on the 1st of An indirect consequence of the August to the Asefat Hanivcharim women’s list was the gratifying – the Elected Assembly of the fact that nearly all the parties felt Yishuv – was regarded by the whole Jewish community as a major event in its internal affairs. The renovation of this authoritative body which elects the Vaad Leumi – the highest self-governing body Give women a chance to co-operate in of Palestinian Jewry – had become moulding the future of the Homeland. Vote an urgent necessity at a time when for HNZ - WIZO momentous issues of post-war policy, of far reaching significance compelled to prove the equality of for the whole population, have to their female members by giving be decided. women a prominent place in their list of candidates, so that the total In accordance with a pre-war number of women in the new resolution, WIZO entered the Elected Assembly reaches the election campaign – together figure of 26, i.e. 15% of the total with the Women’s League for of 171 seats, as against 7, i.e. 10% Equal Rights – with a special of the 71 seats of the now defunct women’s list. The four candidates Assembly. They represent: 14 – elected were: Mrs. Rachel the Labour Party (Mapai); 4 –the Kagan, President of the Palestine WIZO and the Women’s League Federation and Director of the for Equal Rights; 3 – the dissenting Welfare Dept. of the Haifa Kehilla United Labour Front; 2 – the New who headed the list; Mrs. Sara 5%. Percentage of women delegates in Settler’s Party (Aliyah Chadasha), the Elected Assembly. 55%. Percentage of and one each of the Mizrachi Asaryahu, President of the League women in the Jewish Community of Palestine. for Equal Rights, according to the Strengthen women's influence in the public (Orthodox) Party, the Left Wing agreement, second on the list; the bodies. Vote for HNZ - WIZO List "N." Bloc and the Communists.

24 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WIZO Readers Digest, May 1944

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 25 WIZO Readers Digest, May 1944

Modern Day Jewish Heroine Zivia Lubetkin, born in Poland in 1914, was a member of several Zionist movements who, after the Nazi invasion of Poland, travelled to Warsaw in order to join the underground Jewish resistance. As the only woman commander of the Jewish Combat Organization, she led and miraculously survived the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (April 1943), only to choose to fight again in the Polish uprising in Warsaw in 1944. After the war, she worked to smuggle Jews to Palestine and immigrated herself in 1946. In Israel, she was one of the founders of the Ghetto Fighter's Kibbutz and Museum and testified in the trial of Adolf Eichmann.

26 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW Palestine WIZO Newsletter, May-September 1946

Reunion after the Deluge The Story of Hannah Holzmann, one of the founders of Polish WIZO

Among recent arrivals in Palestine of a similar fate. The possibility of have been several prominent WIZO working now with WIZO and taking members who have somehow part in the upbuilding of Eretz Israel managed to live through the horrors helps her to overcome her great of the past few years. Hannah personal sorrows. Holzmann, one of the founders of the Polish WIZO, was one of the sole survivors of the Warsaw Ghetto. She was dragged away by the Germans and put to forced labor in the death camps of Auschwitz, Maidanek and Bergen-Belsen. Her husband and her only son were killed, but, because of her wonderful moral strength, she was able to withstand the horrors of three long years and to help and encourage others.

The Zionist cultural work which was started in the camps was partly due to her efforts. Immediately after the liberation she devoted all her organizational capabilities and her motherly love to the care of orphaned children in Belsen, and to preparing them for their future life in Palestine. She herself arrived in Palestine in May, accompanying a group of these orphaned children and here was reunited with her brother, the only other surviving member of her family.

Addressing a country-wide meeting of Palestine WIZO and also other local groups, she moved all her listeners by her report of the martyrdom of the past years; within the shadow of the crematorium, she witnessed the destruction and murder of tens of thousands and was in constant expectation Hannah Holzmann

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 27 WIZO Review, December 1946 Rebecca Sieff Spends Rosh Hashana in the DP Camps Extracts from an interview with Mrs. Sieff

Jewish Refugees How would they greet her? Wasn’t life – is being overcome there an abyss between those who for many women by the After the war Jewish Holocaust survivors gathered in territories liberated by the Allies. They were sheltered have suffered so greatly and those organisation of WIZO in displaced persons camps. In 1947, the Jewish refugee who have been spared? groups in the camps. population in Europe reached 250,000. The United In Munich Mrs. Sieff Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration They did not leave her long in met Rivka Weber, the (UNRRA) was put in charge of administering the camps; doubt, those Jewish men and women Palestinian member a variety of American and European Jewish humanitarian of the DP camps in Germany. Their of an UNRRA team, organizations were also active. welcome bridged the separation who started a group in The United States, even in the wake of the Holocaust, which her imagination had built in Belsen with the help kept strict limitations on refugee immigration. The its uncertainty. Fate had dealt hardly of former members British, in Mandate Palestine, the destination of choice for many refugees, restricted Jewish immigration in with them, but there was none of of the Polish [WIZO] the dreaded bitter envy in the looks order to avoid upsetting the region's demographic Federation. Rapid balance. and words that greeted her. On the though results have contrary, the impression instantly been, much remains conveyed was one of welcome, a still to be done before spontaneous, joyous welcome that WIZO can claim to have given the made them all feel happy. women all that it is in its power to Mrs. Sieff found [the displaced give. Vocational training needs to Israel; and there persons] well looked after by the be intensified and extended. Though are others like her. Undoubtedly relief teams and the Jewish Agency a few Hachsharah farms have been there is far more for WIZO to do in teams who lived inside the Bergen started on some requisitioned land, the camps… Belsen camp itself…To every sign Mrs. Sieff found to her surprise that [The people are] “Sick of being of understanding, to every act of no attempt has been made to grow shoved around,” as some of them kindness, Mrs. Sieff found them vegetables form kitchen gardens express it, all long for security most touchingly responsive…Much or allotments. Apart from the food of some kind – conditions of life was being done, Mrs. Sieff found, value of home-grown vegetables, which, for better or worse, they for the people who could do so little work in the kitchen gardens would for themselves. will not always have to account for give the women opportunities their actions to the “authorities” The lack of privacy is one of the which it is WIZO’s duty to provide and be dependent upon the whims hardships the people in the camps them with. of others. They want to build up find generally most difficult to something for themselves, to have a There is a great need also for bear…For the “unaccompanied home of their own. Sanctuary, even Yiddish-speaking teams of WIZO children” – the orphaned and graciously accorded, will not satisfy those whose parents have not been women from England and America them…All they have to support traced – Mrs. Sieff found that to go to the camps in order to help them is hope. And this hope they Jewish Agency teams have been with the organisation of WIZO express in their private lives by organising separate educational groups. One young Polish WIZO building up in the camp the heart of centres, converting requisitioned woman, who could not conceal the home life they long for. buildings in pleasant surroundings her emotion at meeting Mrs. Sieff, into homes for children of different has had long experience in the A breath of life from the free world age groups… organisational side of WIZO work must sweep into the camps to stir up and is staying behind to go on with latent forces and turn the stagnant Yet another hardship – the her work in Germany, although her pond of camp existence into the inactivity and tedium of camp husband is waiting for her in Eretz living waters of Jewish life.

28 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW Palestine WIZO Newsletter October/April 1945/46

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 29 WIZO Readers Digest April 1946 WIZO Women on

Hunger Strike Illegal Immigration For years, organized groups, some established by the Jewish leadership in Palestine, attempted to secretly facilitate the The 15 hunger strikers elected by "We are very proud illegal immigration of hundreds of thousands of Jews from Europe to Palestine. In most cases, the British navy intercepted the Yishuv to represent the whole indeed that a member illegal ships and prevented passengers' disembarkation. community in the manifestation of our World WIZO Many illegal immigrants arrested by the British were sent to of its protest against the obstacles Executive has been detention camps on the island of Cyprus. put in the way of the refugees chosen to represent who wanted to proceed to Eretz the Yishuv on Growing international criticism of the detainment of Israel on the “Fede” [ship renamed this memorable Holocaust survivors, as well as a continuing flood of illegal immigrants reaching the shores of Mandate Palestine, the “Dov Hoz”] included three occasion. led the British to put the whole regional crisis in women: Golda Meirson of the the hands of the UN. Executive Committee of the “Please accept our General Federation of Jewish Labor warmest wishes for (Histadrut). Yehudit Simhonit of the physical strength to Women Worker’s Council (Moezet stand this trying test. May your self- Hapoaloth) and Betsy Vromen- imposed castigation bring about the Snapper of the Palestine WIZO desired results so that we may soon Executive, formerly President of have our persecuted brethren with barely recovered in Palestine from WIZO Holland, who had arrived in us in Eretz Israel.” her exasperating ordeal in Nazi Palestine less than two years ago concentration camps, when she from the Belsen [DP] Camp. After the termination of the fast, undertook a strenuous tour through WIZO in Jerusalem arranged an South Africa for the sake of refugee During the fast held at the house assembly at the WIZO Club to pay aid. Only recently returned, she of the National Council (Va’ad tribute to Mrs. Vromen-Snapper. had now asked for the privilege to Leumi), the WIZO Executive and participate in the front rank in the staff sent the following message to Mrs. Vromen, for many years fight for the free entry of her people Mrs. Vromen: WIZO’s president in Holland, had into its homeland.

British soldiers observe an immigrant ship off the shores of Palestine

30 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WIZO Readers Digest, November 1945

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 31 32 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 33 WIZO Readers Digest, June 1946

34 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 35 Palestine WIZO Newsletter May-September 1946 Partisans at WIZO Schools

These youngsters, all between the ages of 15 and 16, are now pupils at our training farm at Schuchanat Borochov. For years they lived and fought as partisans in the Russian forests: Moshe the minelayer, Israel the messenger, Yehoshua the scout, Moyshele who looked after the partisans’ cattle and Yehezkiel, the intelligence agent.

The beginning of August saw the teaching programme has had to very difficult problem in all our largest arrival of refugee ships be altered radically to suit these agricultural institutions, and the during recent months. Their youngsters; some have had hardly construction of accommodation for landing caused high excitement any schooling at all, others have a these pupils has become one of the in the Yishuv, and for many days good grounding in Hebrew learnt in most urgent tasks. there resounded the names of the ‘Tarbut’ schools in pre-Hitler times, Jewish and non-Jewish champions but all lack a systematic education. In the meantime, building has begun of Zionism which the refugees Although they find it strange to everywhere. Two new buildings are used as symbols for their ships – sit on schoolbenches again – ‘like being put up at the Nahalal School, Hanna Szenes, Enzo Sereni, Orde children’ they look on any physical one is a house for 60 youngsters – Wingate, Dov Hos, Eliahu Golomb, work given them as ‘childsplay’. both refugees and the sons of local Chavivah Reik, Max Nordau, Josiah For them, ‘work’ has always settlers – with a clubhouse attached Wedgewood, Henrietta Szold, and meant something quite different to serve as a recreation centre. The others. – forced slave labour which only other building is the long-planned the hardiest of them could survive. schoolhouse to be named after Our agricultural schools and Imbued with the idea of one day Lilian Freiman, the late President of training farms received many new preparing a small plot of land the Canadian WIZO Federation. students from among those on board for their own pioneer settlement, This is being built with the aid these ships. More than 200 girls and they usefully learn all sorts of of a special fund provided by the boys of the Youth Aliyah have been agricultural work. By mixing Canadian Hadassah. split up into groups, they are to be with the youth of Palestine, they seen everywhere these days, these are helped to find their own way Smaller blocks of dwelling youngsters with the tell-tale blue back to a normal existence; to this houses are also in the course of tattoo marks of the death camps on end the Friday evening festivities construction at Ayanoth, Nachlat their arms - children who since their and holidays, amateur dramatics, Yehuda and Petach Tikvah. tenth or eleventh year have lived music and sport all help also, while through all the horrors of an inferno, frank discussions with their group The construction of three additional and who for years have been made leaders and excursions about the schoolrooms is almost complete at to endure forced labour in munitions countryside open for them a vista of the Anna Jaffe Vocational School factories or in stone quarries under a new world. in Nachlat Yitzchak. They will be the lash of the Nazi overseer. Many used for the sewing and weaving of the youngsters were active as Building for the Young departments of the school, the partisans, setting and laying mines Immigrants development of which during the and escaped death only by guile and Housing the boys who have arrived war was greatly hampered by the breath-taking flight. The normal on the refugee ships presents a lack of space.

36 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WIZO Review, September 1947 Mrs. Sieff’s Statement before UNSCOP (United Nations Special Committee on Palestine)

Granted a hearing before UNSCOP, “In order to complete the picture Zionist women have also played the Council of Jewish Women’s drawn by my colleague of the a notable part in the raising of the Organisations in Palestine voiced women’s part in the upbuilding great national funds. the aims and feelings of the women of the Jewish National Home, of the Yishuv through two great I should like briefly to outline “…These organisations sprang up representatives, Mrs. Rebecca the role played by women in the under regimes with such diverse Sieff and Mrs. Rachel Katznelson Zionist World Movement. The social and economic conditions as -Rubashov. original constitution of the Zionist those which prevailed in Tsarist Organisation as adopted by the first Russia, the free United Sates of When Mrs. Sieff took her seat Zionist Congress 50 years ago, gave America, liberal Great Britain, before the microphone a stir full and equal rights to women, extending to all countries of went through the audience, and thus emphasizing its democratic Europe, to the Latin Americas, the when she reached the climax and progressive character. In British Commonwealth and even of her concluding sentences – consequence, the first women to the smallest Jewish communities an impassioned appeal for the Zionists were able, from the outset, in the Far East. The essential unity immediate transfer to Palestine to devote all their energies to the of the Jewish people is reflected of the children from the camps – task of enrolling the Jewish woman with crystal clarity in this very fact there was a moment of stunned into the movement and enabling her that Jewish women under such silence before the applause broke to make her specific contribution diverse conditions and in the face out, an occurrence unprecedented to the renaissance of her people. As of the special difficulties common in the sessions of the committee, it is a sine qua non for the modern to all women, have organised except for the acclamation of Dr. woman to fulfill a dual role, so in themselves for one fundamental Weizmann’s testimony. addition to these specific tasks, ideal – the rebuilding and return to

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 37 their ancient homeland. Throughout all the bitter centuries of the exile, the Jewish woman has joined in the daily prayers for the return to Zion and zealously guarded those age-long religious traditions and festivals indissolubly bound up with the life and soil of the land of Israel. In the lullabies she sang to her child, the Jewish mother expressed this deep yearning and passed it on from generation to generation.

“To translate this deep-rooted faith into terms of a concrete world-wide organisation, embracing close on half a million women, has been no light task. It has indeed demanded untiring devotion and constant WIZO members from Romania, reunited in the detention camp on the island of Cyprus, personal sacrifice. on their way to Palestine “Women had to learn the significance of the woman great woman in Israel to whom was world’s history, our young women as pioneer, to shoulder the entrusted the task of absorbing them fought and fell. A mere handful responsibility for clearly defined into the life and soil of Palestine. have survived to tell the tale. tasks, of which my colleague has given you a picture, and finally, to “Then came the war. Millions “But whatever we have been able raise the funds required for their of Jews trapped in the European to achieve, what does it avail us material realisation in the land of inferno – every avenue of escape if after the great extermination, their prayers. barred and bolted! In this desperate the remnants of our people still plight, our Zionist women came to languish in displaced persons camps “The rise of the Nazi regime, the forefront, displaying invincible and still live in daily terror of their with the incredible suffering it courage, qualities of leadership and lives in countries to which they brought in its wake for the Jewish heroism under conditions never were compelled to return, since the people, demanded an immediate known before in human history. one way they would have chosen is intensification of our efforts What gave them this courage? It barred to them? Perhaps only those and a wide extension of all our was the strong sense of national who, like myself, have visited the institutions and services. That we pride and dignity which they had DP camps in Germany can fully were able, in no small measure, to developed during two decades of realize this bitter humiliation that meet the situation, was due to the intensive Zionist activity. the survivors of the first people basic soundness of our work and outraged by the Nazis should be our organisation. “They kept alive the cultural placed in a category lower than heritage of the Jewish people so those who were responsible for “It was a woman [Recha Freier] – long as there was breath in their launching this hideous war upon herself a potential victim of Nazi bodies. They risked and lost mankind, instead of having been fury – who conceived the idea their lives in that strangest of all made the first consideration of the of Youth Aliyah – the rescue of smuggling activities, spiriting away victorious nations. Jewish youth from the Fascist hell the children over forbidden frontiers by bringing them at an early age or hiding them in hospitable non- “Despite this, such is the attachment to Palestine, the one place in the Jewish homes. Many of them went of our women to their ideal that world which could compensate underground to find their way to the even behind this barbed wire they for these victimized children for partisans, fighting by their side in have spontaneously re-grouped the loss of their parental home and the mountain and forest. In that last themselves under the banner of offer them the prospect of a full life heroic stand of the Warsaw Ghetto, Zionism, not only trying to prepare as free human beings….It was a that unique battle for freedom in the themselves for the future, but

38 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW organising once again social and “The prolongation of this agony you imagine the psychological state cultural service for their fellow is a stain upon humanity which of such a child – after what he has prisoners. can only be effaced if the state of survived? …Even in the games homelessness of the Jewish people which I saw children playing in a “Only men and women desperate to is ended. We identify ourselves with newly established camp outside go home and nowhere else, could the political demands of the Jewish Frankfurt, there was no childish joy, muster up the strengths to break Agency for free and unfettered nor that spontaneity which should through the barriers imposed by immigration into Palestine and be every child’s birthright. The their so-called liberators to sail the independent statehood through Jewish woman longs to restore this high seas in such perilous craft and which alone this can be achieved. under such indescribable conditions. birthright in so far as it is humanly Amongst them are large numbers of “But there is one vital factor which possible. Where else can this be but expectant mothers and women with brooks not a moment’s delay and in that vigorous life which is Jewish babes in arms. Need one say more? which we as women and mothers Palestine, together with its healthy, feel our sacred duty and our moral normal young generation? It takes the force of the British right to place before the United Navy to prevent this human flotsam Nations: that the 30,000 children “…We ask you as representatives and jetsam from landing in the surviving in the DP camps in of the United Nations and as simple homeland, and to escort them to Europe and the 2,000 now in members of the human race to join the new concentration camps in Cyprus be given at once into the in our demand for the immediate Cyprus, where only yesterday the acre of the Yishuv. How can we release of our children. hungry proclaimed a hunger strike make the world realize that almost to protest against the degrading and all of these children are the sole “We shall not rest, nor gentleman, foul conditions under which they survivors of whole families and shall we give you rest until we have are being held. entirely without kith and kin? Can brought our children home.”

Jewish immigrants coming to Palestine

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 39 WIZO Readers Digest, January 1946

40 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WIZO Readers Digest, April 1946

WIZO Around the World, post-WWII The tradition of including updates from WIZO's international federations in its magazines goes back to the early days of the movement. Known today as "WIZO Around the World," the "Round Our Federations" featured here is one of the first published after the end of the Holocaust, which had a decimating effect on WIZO's The reconstituted WIZO Denmark Executive Board in 1946 membership numbers in Europe, and includes touching details about survival, rebuilding and a collective, undaunted Zionist spirit.

South Africa - WIZO Month

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 41 42 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW .

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 43 WIZO Review, January 1948 MESSAGE OF THE HOUR Sent out by Mrs. Rebecca Sieff on Behalf of the London WIZO Executive to the Federations and Groups of the WIZO

At long last, the United Nations the nations, and has recognized But we are deeply conscious of the Organisation, the world's highest its inherent right to deal with its immensity of the challenge of the tribunal, has in clear and unequivocal own problems, and in so doing to hour, the manifold responsibilities terms endorsed the aims and cooperate with those peoples of the which it places on the shoulders of aspirations of our Movement. world who seek justice and progress each and every one of us in a task for all. unprecedented in the history of It has recognized both the justice and We rejoice with full hearts in this mankind. the necessity of the re-establishment decision, together with our fellow With high hearts and deep faith we of the Jewish State in Palestine, the Jews all over the world, and above face the future, and pledge ourselves ancient and historic home of our all, with the Yishuv itself and those to a new dedication to this task – people, the land of its birth. This of our people who are still held the ending of the Golah and the tribunal has understood the right of within the confines of the DP camps redemption of our people in the re- the Jewish people to equality among in Europe and the camps of Cyprus. born Jewish State.

UN Vote for Partition The United Nations General Assembly voted on November 29, 1947, to partition British- controlled Palestine into two states, one Jewish and the other Arab. The British began to withdraw their forces in April 1948.

On May 14th 1948, David Ben Gurion, Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, announced the creation of the Jews in Palestine celebrating the UN vote on partition State of Israel.

David Ben Gurion declaring Israeli independence on May 14, 1948 The United Nations, during the vote on partition

44 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WIZO Review, January 1948

WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 45 46 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 47 Jewish Woman's Review, December 1949

48 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 49 Jewish Woman's Review, December 1949

50 WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW WINTER 2017 | WIZO REVIEW 51 Back Cover from WIZO Review No.103, 1960