The Joint Distribution Committee will provide $1,390,000 during 1955 for the work of the ORT, principal agency offering vocational training to Jews overseas, under an agreement reached today by the two organizations.
The cost of vocational training programs conducted by ORT during the coming year in Europe, Israel, North Africa and other countries will be $3,600,000. Under the terms of today’s agreement, ORT will provide from other sources the difference between the amount granted by JDC and the total sum required.
The pact envisages substantially increased ORT activities in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria to allow for an increase in enrollment at trade education centers in these countries to over 3,000 during 1955. Cooperation between ORT and JDC dates back to the 1920’s.
Signing the agreement for the two agencies were Dr. Aron Syngalowski and Dr, William Haber, representing ORT, and Moses A, Leavitt, executive vice-chairman of the JDC. Dr. Syngalowski is chairman of the executive committee of the World ORT Union and Dr. Haber is president of the American ORT Federation.
The agreement stipulates that ORT will not conduct any independent fund-raising campaigns in the United States, but will continue its membership activities. Under similar annual agreements since 1947, JDC has provided ORT with $10,550,000.
Other provisions of the agreement stipulate that the bulk of JDC-supported vocational training activities overseas will be carried out by ORT. JDC will continue to subsidize other economic reconstruction efforts, including loan funds, sheltered workshops and other activities not embraced by the ORT program.
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.
