Papers of Benjamin Rabalsky

              Boston, November 20, 1916.
The famous and well-known Israel Belkind of Palestine is nov; vi3iting America and no/doubt the mentioning of the name is sufficient to give you a clear idea about that personality who is famous the world over in his pioneer3hip and devotedness in the development of Zionist ideals.
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This note ,is not to introduce Mr. Belkind to you, and neither is it to acqu&int you with his activities, achievements, and realizations, and neither^do v* intend to give you any idea about the many sacrifices that Mr. Belkind brought upon the altar of Zionism and Palestine causes.
/He is visiting America not of his own accord or voluntary desire but simply because he has been forced by the circumstances of the present worldy^^^e as many other pioneers hai*^been driven out of the ..land for which they have sacrificed so much.
We cannot be just in our ideals unless vre accord the comrade, Mr. Belkind, a cordial reception owed to him by the Jews at large, and especially by those ideal young men and women who are devoted to the Zionist causes. We ought to exjE^tf&oour appreciation to Mr. Belkind, .for what he has done so far and therewith encourage him tt,o continue his devotedness to the caused in the future.
We have therefore organized a committee to be known as "The Belkind Committee" and we deem it right to call upon you as a Zionist organization to co-operate with us in the program and plans to be mapped out for the reception and encouragement to be accorded to Mr. Belkind.
We have decided to call a conference of representatives of all Zionist organizations of Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire, at which conference plans will be accepted and also actions advisable for the realization of intentions will be taken up and acted upon.
You are therefore, as official of your organization to immediately get in touch with a few of your members, if you can, have a meeting and appoint or elect two delegates to be present at said conference. If you cannot get in touch with any other official or members of your assocaition it would certainly be advisable that you as official of your organization accept the office and come as a delegate to represent your— associat ion.
The conference will be held on Sunday, November 26th, 1916 at 2 P. M. at the Y. H. H. A., 47 Mount Vernon Street, right near the State House, Boston, Mass. We depend on you and expect that you will certain ly have your delegationship at said conference in order to place your organization on the honor list that responds to duties imposed upon it by the very fact of its existence.
With Zion's Greetings, we remain,
Yours very truly,
THE BELKIND COMMITTEE.