Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the world Zionist movement, today told Argentine Jewry that Israel is now facing a great financial strain not only because of its security needs but also because of the need to absorb a great number of Jews who are now permitted to leave East European countries.
A number of Communist countries, he told several hundred delegates at the opening session of the annual convention of the United Jewish Appeal here, have opened their doors for the emigration of Jews. Only two years ago this was unthinkable, he said. The East European Jews were considered lost to world Jewry. Today, during the month of May, about 12, 000 immigrants will enter Israel and 80 percent of them will come from East European countries. Dr. Goldmann revealed.
Most of these Jews, he reported, are professionals and highly skilled workers and technicians, for whom housing must be built. They cannot be sent to kibbutzim. It is estimated settlement costs will come to about $3, 000 for each during the first year. The Jewish Agency has set a budget of 250, 000, 000 Israeli pounds for their absorption, and world Jewry must provide this sum otherwise this extraordinary immigration may have to be reduced. The danger exists that another chance for such immigration may never present itself, the Jewish Agency president warned.
Dr. Goldmann stressed that despite the fact that the Israeli citizens are already overburdened with taxes, a new tax of 30, 000, 000 Israeli pounds will be imposed upon them for the sole purpose of financing the settlement of the new immigrants. “The people of Israel are accepting these immigrants cheerfully, although this may mean a reduction in their standard of living,” Dr. Goldmann pointed out. He appealed to the Jews or Argentine to increase their contributions to the United Jewish Appeal and to set a new standard of giving. The session was also addressed by Dr. Arieh Kubovy, Israel Ambassador to Argentine.
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.
