More than 35,000 Jewish refugees from lands under the domination of the Nazi regime were settled in Palestine through the assistance of the United Palestine Appeal since the outbreak of the war two years ago, it was announced this week by Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, National Chairman of the United Palestine Appeal.
Dr. Silver emphasized that although the war had created critical problems for the 550,000 Jews in Palestine, the normal rebuilding program as well as the work of caring for, training and settling newly arrived refugees had continued without interruption through the financial support provided by the United Palestine Appeal.
Many refugees from Poland and the Baltic countries were settled in colonies established by German Jewish refugees who had arrived in the past few years, he said, adding that more than 260 Jewish agricultural colonies had been established to date through the efforts of the Palestine Foundation Fund and the Jewish National Fund, which are combined in the United Palestine Appeal.
Reporting on the industrial development of Palestine, Dr. Silver declared that since the beginning of the second World War a total of 67 new industries had been established, in which many refugees had been absorbed and given opportunities for economic self-sufficiency. The Jewish Agency for Palestine, which receives its funds from the United Palestine Appeal, has been engaged in a program of industrial expansion in order to enlarge the opportunities for the use of the special skills which many newcomers from Central and Eastern Europe have brought to the Jewish homeland.
In addition to providing for agricultural and industrial upbuilding, the United Palestine Appeal also helps to maintain the Jewish public school system of Palestine, which now serves more than 83,000 children.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.