The Agudath Israel of America today announced the launching of an independent fund-raising campaign for its religious work in Israel, following the refusal of the Jewish Agency executive to renew its allocation to the Orthodox group for 1951.
“The Agudath Israel of America was compelled to proclaim this autonomous Israel campaign of the framework of the United Jewish Appeal, after being informed that the Jewish Agency has decided not to renew its agreement in 1951 to support the religious projects of the Agudah in Israel,” says the announcement.
A Jewish Agency spokesman, commenting on the announcement of the Agudath Israel, declared that the Agency was forced to discontinue the payment of allocations to several organizations, including the Agudah. “The step was taken in order to concentrate the largest possible portion of Jewish Agency income into the overriding task of financing the general immigration, colonization and absorption program,” he said.
“Needless to say, members of Agudah Israel as well as other religious groups and parties will continue to benefit equally and without discrimination within the framework of the over-all program, ” he continued. “As to the proposed independent campaign announced by Agudah Israel, the Jewish Agency’s Committee on Control and Authorization of Campaigns has set down certain rules and regulations for authorization of such campaigns for Israel, Agudah Israel has not yet made any application for such authorization, ” he pointed out.
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.
