The largest sum ever given to launch a nationwide campaign of the United Jewish Appeal was contributed here today as gifts totalling $11,341,000 poured in at the closing session of the U.J.A. national inaugural conference to formally open the Appeal’s 14th annual drive for aid to Israel, distressed Jews overseas and refugees entering the United States.
This record contribution, which keynoted the opening of U.J.A. activity in 5,000 communities throughout the country, exceeded by $1,191,000 the sum given here one year ago when $10,150,000 was contributed at a similar launching of a U.J.A. campaign.
Edward M.M. Warburg, general chairman of the U.J.A., who presided at the session attended by more than 500 Jewish leaders from communities in 41 states, hailed establishment of this new record in individual and corporate giving as “another great demonstration by American Jews of their utmost concern for human life and human liberty.”
In a concerted move to help the U.J.A. repeat and exceed its $150,000,000 achievement of four years ago, 18 major cities have voted re-adoption of their 1948 local goals to bring to more than $67,000,000 the goals set in the first six weeks of the year. Community action in adopting $67,000,000 in local goals approaches nearly one-half the U.J.A.’s $151,500,000 goal.
BEN GURION APPEALS TO U.J.A; EBAN EMPHASIZES ISRAEL’S NEEDS
Israel Premier David Ben Gurion, in a cable to the conference, declared that Israel “is beset by grave and dangerous difficulties which the young state cannot master without the continuous and selfless cooperation of Jewish men and women the world over.” He termed the united Jewish Appeal “that noble instrumentality” whose “healthy, constructive help” has been felt throughout Israel.
Abba Eban, in a comprehensive statement of Israel’s economic and political position, told the conference that the United Jewish Appeal, which was the first agency in the field to assist Israel in its task of nation-building has “lost nothing of its central and abiding importance.”
Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, executive vice-chairman of the U.J.A., termed the $11,341,000 contributed today as “a remarkable beginning in this year’s drive of the U.J.A. to raise $151,500,000 and there by assure victory for Israel as she fights her second war of independence–this time for economic independence.” Dr. Schwartz urged American Jews to follow this afternoon’s action “with the kind of generosity that can help the U.J.A. achieve by June 30 two-thirds or $100,000,000 of its $151,500,000 goal.”
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.
