דוח על התנועה של הפועל המזרחי - בני עקיבא - במצרים (אנ')

דוח של מוריס מזרחי REPORT: VICTOR CONFIDENTIAL. REPOTR: On the TNUA of the Hapoel Hamizrahi and Bnai Akiva Youth Mouvement in Egypt. I. HANHALA. (at Cairo). The Hanhala is composed of 8 Haveri, 5 of whom were elected, and 3 appointed. They meet regularly once a week. (on Wednesday). Elections, which should have taken place last February, were postponed owing to the fact that no safe place could be found in which an Assefat Khalit could be held, In any case, such a meeting would have been too compromising to be held in public. The members of the Hanhala are as follows:- The Haveri elected: M.M. Mazkir. V.S. Mazkir Houts. N.S. Gavera. A.S. Responsible for Security. S.H. Gaad Tarbut. The Haveri appointed: H.S. H.M. R.A. M.M. Mazkir of our Mouvement was elected in November 1948 after the resignation of V.S.. He is at present the strongest element in the mouvement, having an excellent Jewish and talmudic education. He has followed a seminar given by Yaakov Barth in Egypt, he has been to Teuli in Eretz and was in continual contact with the Haver Mordekhai Oudsis, Ex-Mazkir. V.S. Mazkir of the Mouvement from May 1948 to November 1948 after the arrest of Mordekhai Oudsis and with his consent. He had, however, to resign owing to the fact that he is actually persuing medical studies and is passing his M.D. examination. After November 1948 he took up the position of Mazkir Houts and in May 1949 he stopped all tivities. In July 1949 he will take up a Seminar with the Gkloud Yavne from which his hoped new Madrikhim will be formed. Nouni Shemtob now Nouni Oudsis, has married our ex-Mazkir and is now with him at the Agricultural School in France. A.S. is Guizbar of the Mouvement, and also Responsible for Security. S.H. has the Voluminous task of directing the Vaad Tarbut. H.S.,H.M.,R.A., were appointed to the Hanhala on the advice of V.S. to strengthen it. M.O. who was the strongest element in our Tnua, and who alone alone by his untiring efforts formed and lead the Tnua, was arrest on 14th May 1948 by the Cairo Police for being a Zionist. Two other haverim were also arrested with him. Throughout the length of his internment Huckstep, M.O. was kept continually informed of what was going on in the Tnua. He had, from the start, takenthewise decision of giving the Hanhala complete liberty of action and did not try to handicap it by demanding direct the Mouvement from Huckstep. This was contrary to what happened other mouvements. Reports were continually sent to him and his advice -22- taken on all important decisions. He also received regularly the "Journal parle" or "News Sheet" which was circulated by us. In July 1949 he was repatriated to France. Here are some of the important events which took place in the Hanhala since the 15th May 1948: 14th May 48: Arrest of 3 of our Haverim. 17th May 48: First Hanhala and first decisions, 25th May 48: Second Hanhala, V.S. elected Mazkir. Decison to have a reduced Hanhala of three haverim with one acting as Liasan Officer with the rest of the Mou- haverim: V.S., M.M., A.S. Sep 48: Full Hanhala begins work. Nov 48: V.V. resigns. M.M. elected Mazkir, Mh.M. appoint haver hanhala. Meeting of Cdpudim of 6 Haverim st Feb 49: M.S. and R.A. appointed advisors to the Hanhala. May 49: V.S. stopps activities. M.S. appointed responsible for Alyah. A.S. appointed responsible for Security. Jun 49: Decision to form the following Vaadot:- Vaad Tarbut. " Limoudeh Kodesh. " Safa. " Alyah. " Security. " Excurtions. " Guizbarout. The Hanhala in Cairo is at present faced with enourmous task of re-education, and the difficulties ahead of it are just as enourmous. Th fact that work has to be done underground, and that it is done mostly in th les prosperous quarters of the city where financial conditions are rather poor, and, in addition to this the fact that the Guizbarout is itself makin continual demands for money for purposes of Alyah& abd has non to spare for the mouvement, is a great handicap, All the members of the Hanhala being employed, they are, in con- sequence, not able to devote themselves entirely to the mouvement, thus val effort and time which couls be spent constructively in educational work is wasted towards materialistic ends, and makes it still more difficult to attain the desired aims, The enorrous majority of the Jewish Population in Egypt, of which 80% is Religious, is considering immediate Alyah, and the mouvement is ther fore faced with the huge tak of educating the Youth of this Alyah in the ideologies of Torah Veavodah. It is in view of all these difficulties that the Hanhala appeals to the American Section of the Torah Veavodah mouvement for the financial help which will greatly releive the pressure under which the mouvement is at present. May it be pointed out that the Hapoel Hamizrachi in Cairo, since t day of its foundation, has never received any external financial aid what- soever, and while the other mouvements shared all the aid which came from Eretz, the Hapoel Hamizrachi received nothing, - 3 - The situation as it is at present cannot and should not be permit- ted to go on. It is unfair that such indifference and lack of interest should have been shown by the authorities where we are concerned. The mouvement at present is going through its greatest crisis, and the position if not strengthened and remedied-NOW NOW, will deteriorate and lead to its decay. It is imperative that the far reaching effects this may have be realise and immediate action is taken. N.B. It is proposed that the aid to be received be used for the purpose of having a paid Madrif. This will be of Great help both to the Hanhala and to the mouvement. SHALIAN: We hope that the authorities are aware of the fact that the Hapoel Hamizrahi in Egypt has not had a Shaliah for the past 5 years. Time after time we have continually kept asking for one, but never received any answer. While other mouvements had paid Maskirs and permanent Shalians we were forced to do a voluminous amount of work, all alone and with restricted means. Haverim! The Hapoel Hamizrahi in Egypt cries out to you and begs of you that it be no longer forgotten. In the past we have been able to drag along in someway or other, but great changes have now taken place, and the situa- tion demands that this appeal be taken into consideration. Indifference on your part at such times would cause the deepest disappointment among those of our haverim who have fought so hard in the past to maintain the mouvement, who are fighting now more desperately than ever, and who will go on fighting to the last. II. THE TNUA. In Cairo:- Tseirim age 12-15 3 Gdoudim 48 Haverim. Small Banounim " 15-16 3 " 48 " Banounim " 16-19 14 " 182 " Bogrim " 19-26 7 " 107 " Adults " 26-33 1 " 11 " (N.B. Figures given are up to 10th May 49 396 They are, therefore not too reliable to give the situation as is at present) Analysis of Gdoudim:- a) A Sefat Madrikhim composed of old Haverim and Madrikhim, who are all well advanced in Religious and Haloutzic education, meets once a week to follow special sihot and courses of Limoudeh Kodesh. - 4 - b) The Adults: This gdoud, of eleven haverim, was formed last February by the haver V.S. It is composed of men with strong Religious backgrouds. They have been of great help to the Tnua in financial matters. c) Bogrim:- Gdoud Yavne: (or University Group). This gdoud, composed mainly of University students, is looked upon, by the Hanhalah as the hope of the mouvement. It is at present following a special Seminar, given by V.S. and it is expected that as a result a number of Madrikhim will be formed which will replace those who will be making their Alya. Gdoud Tirat Zvi: This gdoud also holds some of the hopes of the Tnua, but here as in Yavne, the haverim all prefer to make their Alya, rather than stay on as Madrikhim. Gdoud Hanoquov: This gdoud has distinguished itself by the fact that all the haverim have excellent Jewish education. They have all their sihot in Hebrew, and speak no other language between themselves. Gdoud Beriot Ytshak: All the haverim of this gdoud attend Technical schools, which they will be finishing this year. They have asked to make their Alya as a group, and are preparing to realise the plan for a Semi-Industrial village at Chahar. d) Benounim and Small Benounim: Gdoud Kfar Darom: This is the fourth gdoud bearing that name the first two, Kfar Darom Alef and Beth have already made their Alya, Kfar Darom Gimmel has about to do so at the end of July. And Kfar Darom Daled which was only formed in the middle of July has asked to make its Alya Gdoud Nativot: A gdoud was formed soon after the news was hea that the American Garin has gone on Ityashvout and this gdoud was named afte the new Kvouta. Gdoud Chahar: This Gdoud is composed of haverim having re- latives in our Kvoutsa Chahar. They have all asked to make their Alya, and are preparing to do so, e) Tzeirim: This Kfir presents a real problem. They composed of only 3 gdoudim those who do attend regularly are only 48 in number. But in fact they are more than a hundred. We have 4 experienced Madrikhot working for them and all is being done in order to attract them as much as possible. The main trouble, of course, is the lack of a meeting place, meetings have to take place in houses, and parents are reluctant to receive them. Also the lack of any amusements and outings which would attract them to us. "enerally speaking, it is noticable, that the level of Jewish education is high. All the haverim attend Friday night and Saturday night prayer meetings at the Synagogues. One difficulty in this regard, is the fact that the Hanhalah makes it a point not to refuse haverim from non- Jewish school and who have poor Jewish education, The hanhalah beleives in their re-education, this is, however, additional work for the madrikhim. In Heliopolis: There are about 40 haverim in this Tnua, but, this number has been reduced lately to around 10, This unfortunately, was not due to any alyot, but to a discord which took place in their Hanhalah. It is to be pointed out that the discord arose from the fact that certain haverim have a "Snobish" spirit which makes them unpopular. - 5 - This "Snobism" is a marked characteristic of the haverim of Heliopolis. They are, however, of excellent Jewish Education, In Alexandria. The Tnua in Alexandria now numbers about 150 haverim. They have prospered considerably lately, and it is comforting to see that things are going smoothly with them. III. SECURITY. From the point of view of security our mouvement, previous to the 15th May 48, was always on its guards, thus we suffered only three arrests which other mouvements suffered heavily. From the 15th May 48 till around September practicallyno great amount of work was done. Meetings took place in the homes of haverim, with a limited number of three. The Madrikhim carried no papers on them, Sihot and news were previously learned by heart, and recited to the haverim, who in turn transmitted the news. No other activities took place. The Haverim had strict orders not to form groups in the streets. They were all distributed evenly in the various synagogues in order to avoid forming groups outside the synagogues at the end of prayers. The situation has, however, slightly improved since, and at present is as follows: Gdudim now have their meetings at the homes of haverim. Their number in such meetings does exceed 15 and they try not to meet at the same houses regularly in order not to attract attention. The haverim are still distributed in the various synagogues and still have orders not to form groups in the streets. They are given no "compromising" papers to carry, only madrikhim carry sihot and "news sheets". No books are passed around. Few outings take place, when they do take place the number of haverim is limited, and they keep away from populated and crowded quarters where trouble may rise. Last may an excursion was arranged by the Adults group. No haverim came. The profits of this excursion when to the Alyah funds. No camps have been arranged, naturally. Though the minds of the Arab Population in Egypt are less poisoned and less incited against the Jews at present, some university students are not so ready to forget what happened, and these try to instigate fights and riots. No serious incidents have occured for the past six months. IV. MATERIAL (Sihot, Books, etc.) All the books, sihot, papers etc.. of our Tnua were either hidden or, destroyed well before the 15th May and nothing was left with which to continue work. The first task of the Hanhala was to form an "Information and Propaganda Bureau" as soon as work began. The have V.S. who had previously worked in a leading Cairo Newspaper was given the Direction of this Bureau and its aims were as follows:- -6- 1. To elevate the morale of the Jewish Community in Cairo, which was being poisoned by the local press. 2. To propagate correct information as to what was happening in Israel. 3. And, by the diffusion of this information, to counteract the affect of the local propaganda. This Bureau obtained its information from "Kol Israel" and "Kol HaHagana" Broadcasts. Also from the papers which came from the out- side and were not caught by the censor. This information was at the beginning transmitted verbally, but later on "Journal Parle" was issued and still appears regularly every fortnite. The Bureau has now been dissolved as it is no longer necessary and its work has been taken over by the Vaad Tarbut. The Haver V.S. also undertook the task of partly rebuilding the Material we had previous to the 15th May. This Task has, however, now been taken over by the Vaad Tarbut, and is now doing an admirable work of reconstruction with the little it has. The Work has greatly been facilitated by the papers received such as "Idiot", "Hayonou", "Pinka HaMadrikh", "Hohalanous" etc. and also by the library of th American Embassy to which free access was given. At present the Tnua has an urgent need of material on the following subjects:- 1. Hapoel Hamizrahi. (everything about it). 2. "Voutza and Haloutsiot life. 3. Religion (Specially: Civic Laws of Torah, Sanhidrin, and Knesset Hagedola) 4. Hagana. 5. Regular news on events in Israel and the Jews in the Gola in general. V. LIMOUDEH KODESH AND SAFA. Most of our haverim have excellent Jewish backgrounds and they are continually working to improve upon it by following regular courses in limoudeh kodeshand safa. Classes are given by haverim with great experience and by Rabbies of the Keter Torah of Daher. the number of courses a week varies from five to two, depending on the times the haverim can attend. A difficulty lies in the fact that we are very short of books for safa and are urgently in need of 50 Ale alef and 70 Ale Beth. VI. CO-OPERATION with other Mouvements. In this regard it is to be pointed out that we have worked in close co-operation with the Hehaloutz from June 48 to September 48. The haver V.S. was in continual contact with four of the madrikhim to whom hi passed sihot and news sheets. At all times this co-operation was on the best of terms. Further is said in this connection in the part on Alyah. - 7 - VII. DEFENCE. Three points in this connection: 1. We had great difficulty in making the authorities accept our condition of not working on Shabbat. It is only after energetic protests and threats to stop activities and protest to Eretz that this conditions was accepted. 2. The Authorities were reluctant to give the necessary protection to Synagogues during the period of Rosh Hashana and Kippur and again only after being pressed did they accept. 3. We requested, and think it of our right, to have at least one re- presentative in the Picoud. VIII. ALYAH. (N.B. The following is a translation of the part of the Report on Alyah written by the haver V.S.and which I have succeeded in smuggling out of Egypt.) From the start a very difficult struggle was fought where Alyah was concerned. The chief difficulties being: 1. The Official formalities with the Government. 2. The lack of Financial means. 3. Continual Sabotage by the responsible for the Alyah: Hachomer Hatzair. a) July 48: By order of the Hanhala the haver V.S. undertakes a trip to Alexandria to consider the possibilities of illegal Alyah. The essential weapon "Finance" is lacking however, and nothing can be done. b) September 48: We get in touch with those responsible for Alyah. A small vaad, of one haver from each mouvement, is formed. The Hachomer is proposed as contact with the higher authorities. We suggest this contact be either elected or be a third person from the Higher Authorities. As a result the Hachomer disolves the Vaad. c) The Higher Authorities, Whom we do not know, impose upon us a contact who is none other than the Mazkir of the Hachomer and we are told to expect: 1. No Financial Aid. 2. No Technical Means. 3. No Technical Aid. 4. No hope for "Local Subjects". 5. No visas from foreign Consulates. We had no experience whatsoever in Alyah work, our internal haverim being the ones who had that experience and knowledge. As for the authorities whose duty it was to help us, they acted in a criminal manner not only in refusing to aid us, but by giving us false information and sabotaging our Alyah by every means. We were, therefore, forced to learn everything slowly and by ourselves, thus losing an enormous amount of precious time which could have been used for educational purposes. - 6 - Here are some examples of the non-collaboration on the part of the responsible for Alyah (Hachomer) and of their efforts to sabotage and discourage us from undertaking Alyot. 1. We complained of the uselessness of our contact being the Ma zkir Hachomer who he was replaced by another Haver Hachomer who maintined the same line of conduct. 2. Our First Alyah: Jacques Aboulboul, Hazan and Harrouch. They were in miserable financial condition, everything had to be paid for by the mouvement, photographs, formalities even cloths. We had asked for help and a d- vice from our contact but he does not keep his promises. We asked for aid for the tickets alone and we were promised the necessary aid. But at the last minute the contact fails to keep his promise. The Thua in Cairo and Alexandria borow the money, the haverim finally leave, but we remain heavily indebted. The situation in Alexandria grew very serious and the Thua ran the risk of being lost. This was due to the fact that they could not repay the $120 which they had borrowed. While we too in Cairo were heavily in debt and could do nothing about it. After 2½ months of argument with the Authorities and after having threatened to protest to Erets we are given $80 to pay our debts. The Alyah had coast $320 plus five trips to Alexandria. The authorities promise that in future they will give us their help. 3. The case of the Two Rouahs: This was a repetition of the first tragedy, but in a more serious manner. Two months before the Alyah we gave the Autho- rities in Cairo and Alexandria notice, and we were promised that they would pay for the tickets. Four days before the departure Harocd Rouah comes to Cairo and is reassured by the Authorities that they will provide the two tickets. Two days before the departure, however, the Authorities in Alexandria give no- tice that they cannot provide the tickets as they have no money. Our Mazkir in Alexandria Ariel borrows $120 for the olimand the Alyah takes place in spite of everything in spite of the Hachomer. (The $120 were later repaidfrom $180 collected by the Thua in Cairo.) 4. The Authorities (Hachomer) order our Mazkir and responsible for Alyah not to bother about the "Local Subjects" of undetermined nationality as there was no hope for them. One month latter we learn that the Hachomer has prepared a Alyah of haverim with Laissez-Passer. The Authorities had misinformed us. Saying nothing to the authorities we prepare a Alyah Happel Mizrahiall of ha- verim with Lassez Passers. (Toby Coldstein and wife, and the group of shlomo Benzaken). 5. The Haver V.S. was ordered not to ask help from the "Sutton" travel agency. He obeys but has great difficulties. Later on, we learn that haverim of Hachomer are obtaining help from "Sutton". This is confirmed by V.S. who has found that out. Once more the Authorities had misinformed us and were try- ing to sabotage our Alyah. V.S. goes to see "Sutton" and settles various formalities of our haverim with him. In this way out of seven olim of the 15th May 49 four would never have left, had "Sutton" not settled the formalities of the Italian Visa. 6. Up to May 49 no aid whatsoever either technical or financial was given to our olim before their departure. Only months after they had left were we able to obtain small sums as compared to our expenditures. An exemple was our first Alyah: 2½ months after the haverim left and after ha- ving threatened to protest to Erets did we receive $80 out of $320 we had spent. And in the mean time pir Thua at Alexandria went through a difficult crisis which might have resulted in its liquidation. This solely as a resultsof the Authorities refusal to help and their efforts to sabotage our Alyah. - 9 - 7. Not only did we receive no help or financial aid, but all our haverim who were able to pay for their trip were forced to pay to the authorities the sum of £20. 8. We proposed that the sums payed by our haverim be refunded to our mouvement for the use of our olim. The proposal was refused. 9. We proposed that these sums be set aside by the authorities to pay for the passages of those of our haverim who could not afford it. The proposal was refused. 10. In the Alyah of the haver Bellaish we asked that he be exempted from paying the $20 as he had already given our mouvement the sum of $120 for Alyah. The proposal was again refused. 11. Having been informed by a letter from one of our haverim, on his arrival in France, of the address of our Haksharah, and owing to the fact that we received no aid from the authorities financial or other, but on the contrary were continually sabotaged, while being forced to pay the tax of $ 20, the Hanbala Artsit of the Hapoel Hamizrahi decided, in May 49, to co-operate no longer with the Authorities but to send our Olim directly to our Haksharah in France, but, however, before this decision could be made known to the autho- rities, notice was received of the arrival of the new Shaliah for Alyah. The haver V.P., with whom contact was made, had a talk with the Shaliah in which he informed him of the whole situation. The Shaliah proposed that the Hapoel Hamizrahi forget the past and co-operate again on a new basis. This proposal was accepted by the Hanbala after a long discussion. 12. During the whole period of our cooperation with the authorities we never had faith in the address given by the to to our olim. We always made it a point to inform the haver Yaakov Barth in England by coded letter of the arrival of our olim. In addition to this we always gave them the address of our mouvement in France. 13. A serious incident was the fact that our two haverim Jacques Bellaish and Maurice Levy, were given false addresses by the authorities, this inspite of the fact that they had each paid the $20 tax. It was thanks to the address of our mouvement in France, which they had, that they reached their destination. 14. The new Shaliah has formed a small vaad of one haver from each mouvement with a fifth fourth person as contact. But this vaad too has proved worthless as the contact is again Hachomer. 15. Since the arrival of the Shaliah, the situation has improved and we are beginning to receive a financial aid for our olim, though the authorities are still Hachomer and are always trying to handicap and lessen our Alyah. The Shaliah has to fight continually against these moves from the Hachomer. We have to add that for two weeks our contact with the authorities has failed to keep his appointments and lately he has refused to take the necessary step to obtain the Italian visa for three of our haverim before we paid the price of the visa $15 and at that time we had no money. Our Financial Resources for Alyah. 1. Mainly derived from a one week per month privation in all our gdou'im, which amounts to the quarter of the Koup of every gdoud. 2. All prices of Cinema tickets, messibot, outings, etc., are highly increased to collect for Alyah. 3. The Koupah of every gdoud is at the disposal of the alyah. These restrictions are, however, very prejudicial to the welfare of the mouvement and it is unjust to impose such heavy privation on the haverim. But the authorities do not seem to understand that... 4. Since June 49 the authorities have began giving us some financial aid. This undoubtedly is due to the efforts of the Shaliah to diminish the action of the Hachomer. - 10 - Our Griefs on the Methods at the Present Employed by the Alyah Organization in Egypt. 1. The authorities responsible for Alyah are all "achomer. 2. Large sums of money are received by these authorities, where they go, the "achomer alone knows. We, however, still remember the scandals produced by the sums taken by them from Schakalim and from K.K.L. funds and used by them. 3. No proper financial aid has been given for our Alyah. 4. No Technical aid has been given. 5. No sufficient financial aid has been given to families. 6. Continual cases of negligence are seen on the part of the authorities. 7. We, the Hapoel Hamizrahi, though we are now the largest mouvement and alone are responsible for the Alyah Datit from Egypt, have no representative in the Vaad Elione of Alyah in Egypt. This too, in spite of the fact that we now have a number of "a erim who are greatly experienced in matters of formalities for Alyah and have great capacities for organizational work. But the "achomer both opposes this and as it wants the whole of the Alyah from Egypt to be "achomer and wants to sabotage the Hapoel Hamizrahi. We, therefore, lodge a formal protest with the Ministry of Immigration and officially demand that drastic measures be taken in order to safeguard the rights of the Hapoel Hamizrahi, as the largest mouvement in Egypt, a to assure that every financial aid and every guarantee be given to our olim in their righfull demand for Alyah. We propose, therefore, to have a representative in the Vaad Elione of Alyah in Egypt, who would take his share in the responsibilities and in the work, and at the same time could safeguard the rights of our haverim. This guaranteeing the rights of the olim Datim who have so often been refused ad from the authorities. The Shaliah is in complete agreement with these demands. The Shaliah himself is experiencing great difficulties to make the authorities of Alyah respect the rights to Alyah of every ole, specially the olim Haloutsim, from whatever mouvements they be. He has the opportunity to notice the many irregularities which have taken place, all in favour of the "achomer whereas he has seen the efficiency and ability of our haverim in technical work. Moreover we must add that we have at present 157 haverim preparing their papers for Alyah, and over one hundred more in suspense, because of the funds that are lacking and which could not be obtained from the authorities. The Hapoel Hamizrahi in Egypt believed it to be its duty to safeguard the interests of all Jews in Egypt, without any distinction as to tendencies or beliefs, and to sees to it that every financial and technical aid be given equitable to all. And further to see to it that sums collected for Alyah are used for that purpose and that purpose alone. The Hapoel Hamizrahi in Egypt considers that both the Hapoel Hamizrahi in Eretz and in the Gola has to receive its intergral share in the responsibilities and duties towards the accomplishment of the Zionist Ideals of which it is itself a basic part. - 11 - From the Point of View of Youth Mouvement for Alya. *** 1. June 48 the whole mouvement is considered as Houg [?]. 2. Up to February 49 the Hanhala was very strict in con[?]ering haverim for Alya But having learn of the Takshara in France they lessend the restrictions. 3. Families: At the moment the problem of families seems to be very acoute. The haverim mainly want to know if a) They will still live with their f milios in the "outs[?]. b) Do all Kvoutsot accept families. c) What sort of work will they be able to do, 4. July 49: Just before his departure Mordekhai [UNCLEAR] and the Hanhala formed the Mazkirout of the New Garin. The Mazkir being M.O. 5. At the same time was also formed a Merkaz Alyah which is to have a permanent representative in France and one in Italy to receive the Olim. M.O. being Merakez. 6. The new garin has in mind a project for a Semi- Industrial Kvoutsa at Chahar and'it is to that end that we are preparing haverim in Egypt, for specialized work. 7. Haverim of the Hanhala and Madrikhim are not to make their Alya[?] unless adequately replaced. 8. An important Seminar is actually being held in Alexandria to replace the pre- sent madrikhim, who are to make their Alya. Two Seminars have already been [?]e in July-September 48 both in Cairo and Alexandria. At present, it is hoped that out of the 35 haverim following the Seminar, at Cairo at least 20 Madrikhim will be formed and in Alexandria 8. A Shaliah, Hapoel Hamizrahi, would have been of invaluable help in form[?]n[?] these madrikhim. 9. We would like to point out to the Hapoel Hamizrahi, that the present Olim are mostly haverim who have spent about a year in the Mouvement. [?]he are, however, bein pressed to accept the Alya of haverim with only a few months in the mouvement. It is for this reason, and in spite of the [?]ct that we are continually strengthening our haverim in all their activities by additional sihot, limudeh kodesh and safa, as well as by imposing through their madrikhim a strict control on all activities, it must be expected that the general level as reg[?] [?]e[?]- logy and haloutsic eduction will [?]o down. [?]t is practically [?]p[?]ssible to educate haverim in the period of a few month[?]. We, therefore, beg the Hahlanat [?] [?]ti to [?]m[?] [?] t[?] [?]h[?] [?]aksharat both in France and in Isr[?]el, [?] [?]ntin[?] [?]ll[?] w[?] [?]ntensifying all activities in view of attaining a [?]erfe[?] [?]aloutsic Hahsara Haklait of our [?]im. ------------------------- Our Opinion on the General Alya[?] from Egypt. ------------------------- Our long experience in Zionist work as well as the experience we have acquired by our work in close contact with the families of our haverim, allows us to formulate the following general objective remarks and recommendations concerning the General Alya from Egypt: 1. 80% of the Jewish population in Egypt is Batit, and the Hapoel Hamizrahi as well as the Mizrahi and Agoudah could find a great number of adherents in this population, 2. In the interest of the Yishouv, we beleive that if Zionist Education of the Alyah in Egypt is directed on a sufficiently Religious basis the Yishouv could profit matirially to a great extent by it. This in view of the fact that the population holds strongly to its religious beliefs. 3. We are certain that if systematic plans are put to practice in this direction [?]e majority of the Alyah from Egypt could be directed towards an Hahsara Haklait, The Hapoel Hamizrahi has a very special task to perform in this regard - 12 - 4. The Jewish community in Egypt could benefit our state in every way. And we consider it necessary to impress upon it a deep patriotic and dynamic spirit that whcich actually reigns in Eretz. 5. As for the Education of Children we are conscious that the Alyat Hanoar Hadat is faced with an enormous task. No effort and no sacrifice should be too gre in view of preparing an excellent youth with ideals towards Haloutsiout and the kibbouts. We request that the Kibbouts Hadati give this institution preferance to all other Hapoel Hamigrahi Institutions. THREE LESSONS WE HAVE LEARNT. ___________________________ Since the 15th May 48 we have learnt the following three lesson from life: 1. The Haloutsic work should not be directed alone towards the youth but must be deeply impressed into the families and family life in general. This is specially important for a Torah Veavodah Mouvement. 2. Neither luxurious lodals nor expensive feasts can give any remarkable results. At best they serve to attract a number of people whose sincerity an derstanding is doubtfull. Zionist work in the families is by far superior in that it serves multiple puposes: a) It formes the families. b) It strengthens the social ties between the Maverim. c) It binds the families of the Haverim into one large family with the same idiology. We firmly and sincerely believe that the propagation of the ideal of Torah Veavodah would be greatly benefited by such means. 3. We have learnt, during the difficult period after the 15th May 48 that, unfortunately, even in the most critical times in the life of the Jewish community and at a time when the very existance of the people is in danger, there exists certain groups in the Jewish people who place thier own egoitic in- terests and motives before the interest of the community. And not only do they work solely for their own selfish aims, but they stop and disarm fellow brothers giving them a real stab in the back. For us haverim of the Hapoel Hamizrahi as well as for the Haverim of the Hehaloutz and a number of Jewish personalities and individuals a bitter lesson was taugh during the period after the 15th May 48. It is unfortunate, but the Hachomer Hatzair in Egypt does not know and has not learnt the meaning of solidarity in difficult times. It seems it will never learn it. For they have maintained in the past and continue to maintain a partisan attitude in all spheres of activities , this even when the rest of the community was in serious danger. For them the egoistic and partisan principles come before all else. This bitter lesson which we have learnt, specially in the sphere of Alyan whcih at present is of a most vitalimportance to Jews in Egypt, we shall never forget. In fact it has now become an integral part of our conceptions and our ideologies, as haverim of the Hapoel Hamizrahi in Egypt. 66-------------------------------------------------------------------------