POST-WAR REORGANIZATION (1946-1947)

At the conclusion of the war we believed we were entering upon a new era in the world. The rise of British Labor to power led us to believe that the White Paper would be revoked and the Jewish commonwealth would be established in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation. At our Detroit convention in 1945, hopes were high, and our chaverim spoke in terms of the "conquest of American Jewish youth for the rebirth of the Jewish people." It soon became clear that the post-war world was not the ideal world about which we had dreamed, and that our struggle for the Jewish state and for a better world was a long and difficult one. There were also subjective factors which did not make it possible for the movement to become the mass movement talked about at the Detroit convention. Nevertheless, the years after the war were filled with activities and exciting developments. Habonim was in the forefront of Jewish youth in working in the spirit of the resistance which was then the fate of Eretz Israel.

We assembled at the convention at Camp Moshava during August, 1947, stronger in number and in spirit than we had been at the end of the war. During the period between the conventions, there was a substantial aliya to Eretz Israel, an increase in our membership in Hechalutz, and an alertness on the political front which led to intensified action by the entire Labor Zionist movement. A new leadership had developed within Habonim; and the tradition of steadfastness, reliability, and sacrifice, which had characterized Habonim since its inception, was maintained. At the time of the Moshava convention, there were three hundred twenty groups, with a registered membership of over thirty-seven hundred in forty cities plus eleven branches in New York City. It was estimated that there were at least another one thousand unregistered members. During the same period, seven hundred chaverim were graduated into the LZOA-Poale Zion, and groups of graduates were formed into Farband and Pioneer Women groups. Leadership training and educational work was enhanced, and the camps were strengthened by the acquisition of new sites and the formation of the Habonim Camping Association to coordinate and standardize camp operations.

As heretofore, the major effort in the field of funds was for the Jewish National Fund. In addition to the normal work for this institution, the special quota of trees accepted at the Detroit convention was reached, and the forest in memory of our chaverim who lost their lives in the field of battle was planted. The transmissions to Kfar Blum for the children's home and for Bet Habonim amounted to approximately twenty thousand dollars; in addition, money was raised for direct transmission to the kibbutz and for the purchase of equipment. Substantial sums were also raised for the Histadrut, Hechalutz, and Hagana.

More than ever before, the merkaz and the membership throughout the country were "on guard" and were alerted for all routine political activities or special activities resulting from the constantly changing situation in Eretz Israel. Frequently Habonim took the initiative in conducting important educational work among American Jewish youth and within the entire Labor Zionist movement. Through Habonim's representatives on the Central Committee of the LZOA-Poale Zion, efforts were made to keep the entire movement on the alert. Habonim, in turn, fulfilled all calls of the Central Committee in the field of political activities.

A great deal of educational work was done within Habonim and within the entire Labor Zionist movement in relationship to the question of the split in the labor movement in Eretz Israel. The national office issued special, circulars and a special pamphlet discussing the issues involved, reaffirming our identification with Mapai through the Ichud Olami (World Union of Labor Zionists).

In preparation for the World Zionist Congress, Habonim conducted an intensive shekel campaign nationally and locally. In many cities Habonim directed the offices of the local committees and conducted the propaganda work for the Labor Zionist candidates. Close to twenty thousand shkolim were sold by Habonim. David Breslau represented the movement at the World Zionist Congress, serving as secretary of the American Labor Zionist delegation. Together with Abe Cohen, Naomi Handelman, and Adele Saltz, he also participated in the World Conference of Zionist Youth Organizations called by the Youth Department of the World Zionist Organization.

Habonim chaverim were active in picketing British consulates, in sending letters and telegrams, and in participating in all activities initiated by the Young Zionists Action Committee. In July, 1946, Habonim chaverim from all parts of the country came to Washington to participate in the G.I. March organized by the Jewish War Veterans. Habonim was also active in the Labor Palestine Veterans Committee as long as it functioned.

After 1945, the Palestinian terrorist organization Irgun Zvai Leumi increased its propaganda in America, and the front organizations it formed began to influence large sections of public opinion. The merkaz accepted as its responsibility the duty of breaking the "wall of silence" which surrounded the activities of Hagana, the underground resistance organization of the Jewish community in Palestine. Special seminars were held, and plans were made to counteract the influence of the Irgun Zvai Leumi on the American Jewish scene. Efforts were made to alert the other sections of the Labor Zionist movement by our representatives on the Central Committee of the LZOA-Poale Zion. After very careful consideration, on May 19, 1947, Habonim inserted an ad in the New York newspaper PM, explaining the work of Hagana. This action was the first break in the "wall of silence" and aroused all other Zionist groups; the American public, in general, and the American Jewish community, in particular, became aware of the historic role of the Hagana in Eretz Israel. By the end of the year, Americans for Hagana was formed. At the same time, Habonim issued its record album, "Songs of the Hagana." Habonim chaverim were also very active in the work of Materials for Palestine.

Considerable time was spent by the merkaz in discussing the situation of the Jews in the world and our responsibility to the remnants of our people in Europe. In addition to direct participation in the work of the Labor Zionist Relief and Rehabilitation Committee, out chaverim sent tons of clothing and food to Europe and thousands of books to the D. P. camps and to centers of our movement in all parts of Europe. Chaverim worked with the Joint Distribution Committee in Germany, and others worked as teachers in Jewish schools in France. Many members of American Habonim, untutored in the arts and skills of the seas, helped man the ships of -Aliya Bet and helped in breaking the British blockade that sealed the coast of Eretz Israel. Other chaverim chose for themselves the way of Aliya Bet. They went to Europe to work with refugees and chalutzim, they lived with them in the camps, shared their work, sailed on the ships, and went with them to Cyprus. When finally the day of aliya arrived, they joined their chaverim in Eretz Israel. By September, 1947, close to one hundred fifty chaverim had gone to Palestine "by every method."
D.B., 1960