United Jewish Appeal Drive for 1949 Will Start in Many Cities During Week-end

The 1949 United Jewish Appeal campaign for $250,000,000 will get under way this weekend in many large and small cities across the country, it was announced today by U.J.A. national chairmen William Rosenwald, Herman L, Weisman and Rabbi Jonah B. Wise.

At a series of meetings of the national chairmen and key officials of the United Jewish Appeal, plans were worked out for implementing the decisions of the U.J.A. national conference. Among the large communities where campaigns on behalf of the 1949 U.J.A. are being launched within the next few days are Pittsburgh, Miami, Newark and Phoenix. Dozens of smaller cities are also preparing to open their drives during the coming week or ten days.

In their statement announcing the opening of the U. J.A. campaigns, Rosenwald and Weisman and Rabbi Wise pointed out that the decision of the Export-Import Bank to grant a $100,000,000 loan to Israel, “although gratifying in view of the great needs in Israel, does not reduce by one iota the necessity to raise $250,000,000 for the United Jewish Appeal in 1949.” They stressed that none of the vital programs that are supported by U.J.A. funds can receive any part of the $100,000,000 loan.

They cited the fact that the Export-Import Bank loans are made for specific projects that build up the economic potential of the borrowing country, and that loan funds will not be used to transport immigrants to Israel or resettle them there. They also cited a statement by Dr. Oscar Gass, economic advisor to the Israeli Government that “contributions of world Jewry” must provide a large part of an $800,000,000 immigration, settlement and economic development program envisaged by the Israeli Government.