Seventy-five young people who will spend the next six months to a year studying in Israel under the auspices of the World Zionist Organization-the largest group of its kind from Western Hemisphere countries to date–sailed from New York this week-end aboard the S/S Constitution.
The group includes 30 American student-teachers who will participate in a six-month seminar in Israel, 25 Jewish youth leaders who will study the Hebrew language, Jewish history and other subjects for one year, and 20 young professionals and technicians who have enrolled in “Ulpanim,” intensified Hebrew language courses of six months duration. Several of the latter plan to take temporary jobs or settle in Israel upon completion of their courses.
Mrs. Rose L, Halprin, acting chairman of the World Zionist Executive, described the various programs as “a vital experiment in the interplay of cultural forces” between American Jewry and Israel. “For the Israelis, whose profound interest in American democracy is demonstrated by the wide readership of American books–Hebrew translations of Jefferson, Hamilton and Adams as well as modern works–the impact of so many young Americans will serve to increase the understanding of our country,” she said. “The American students, in turn, will absorb Israel culture and will come in contact with a variety of world cultures because the people of Israel today represent 70 or more different nationalities.”
The student-teachers, members of the graduating classes of the five leading Hebrew teacher training colleges in America, were chosen ton the basis of their scholastic records to participate in the seminar. They will receive one semester’s credit toward their graduation next June. The seminar is an annual project of the World Zionist Organization’s Department of Education and Culture.
The youth leaders, hailing from all parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico, are participating in another annual project of the World Zionist Organization’s Youth Department. Members of this group, all in their late teens and early twenties, will be divided into classes for the year’s work. Upon their return home, they will rejoin their various groups as instructors and cultural leaders. Enrollees in the “Upon” include teachers, social workers, a dental hygienist, a mechanic, a nurse, a musician, a couple who produce a radio program and members of several other professions. Travel arrangements and other assistance were rendered by the World Zionist Organization’s Aliyah Department and by the Office for Professional and Technical Workers (PATWA) of the WZO in New Yoek.
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.
