Ort Convention Concludes; Adoptes Resolutions to Expand Facilities in U.s., Israel

A resolution calling for the expansion of ORT facilities in the United States wherever they may be needed, with the advice and cooperation of existing Jewish agencies, was adopted here today at the closing session of the two-day annual convention of the American CRT Federation, held at the Hotel Roosevelt with delegates from all sections of the country in attendance. Another resolution pledged extension of the CRT’s programs in the Jewish state to “assure the foundation of Israel.” George Backer was reelected president of the organization.

Israeli Consul-General Arthur Lourie, one of the principal speakers at the convention, said that the “ORT has begun to make a significant contribution in the care and training of orphan children in Israel. Thousands, and we hope tens of thousands of our citizens, will thus acquire the skills essential for the maintenance of a vigorous and virile economy,” he emphasized, adding that in “this achievement, CRT will play an important and honored part.”

President Truman, in a message to the conference, said: “I Join the many who confidently look forward to seeing the expanded programs in Israel and North Africa become effective in re-establishing productive lives for thousands who have survived cruelties and barbarities. Moreover, the Israel training centers can be expected” to aid industry there and thus contribute to the entire economy of the new Jewish nation.”

In a cabled greeting from Israel, President Weizmann asserted that ORT was Important not only because it trains new citizens of Israel, but because by increasing the skill of the labor force it makes possible higher productivity necessary if additional immigrants are to be admitted. “Israel must build a productive machine capable of supporting beyond our present population the hundreds of thousands who later enter our gates in the next few years,” the Israeli President’s message said. “It is only through the development of a highly-skilled labor force and the resulting high productivity of labor that Israel can fulfill the goals that it has set for the entire Jewish people,” his message said.