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Rescue, Resettlement Network in Europe Planned by Agudath Israel

December 31, 1980
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An Orthodox Jewish network for the rescue and resettlement of Jews from lands of peril will be established throughout Europe by the Agudath Israel World Organization, it was decided here at the close of the recent meeting of its international executive. The Agudath Israel network will cooperate with other agencies in this field, placing major emphasis on filling religious needs.

The all-day deliberations, chaired by Rabbi Moshe Sherer of New York, Executive President of Agudath Israel of America and recently elected chairman of the executive of the Agudath Israel. Would Organization, was attended by delegates from England, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Austria, Denmark, and Italy.

The conference of the European members of the Agudath world executive also mopped plans to strengthen Torah education and lift the levels of Jewish observance in France, the largest center of Jews on the Continent, and in Scandinavia. The conference also decided that Agudath Israel organizations throughout Europe will be mobilized for a concentrated effort to influence uncommitted Jews to engage in Torah study as the first step towards their becoming fully observant, in on effort to stem the tide of assimilation which is sweeping many countries.

At a citywide reception for Sherer, sponsored by the Zurich chapter of Agudath Israel, he said in an address that the 1980s “require a new agenda to meet the new challenges.”

The Agudath Israel leader declared that, “While in the past decades Orthodox Jewry struggled on the defensive to prevent the flood waters of deviationism from overwhelming the traditional Jewish home and its values, today the situation has drastically changed.” Informed, dedicated Torah activists the world over, are now “powerful enough to go on the offensive to wean away large masses of Jews from the purveyors of a false Judaism who are leading them down the road of spiritual oblivion,” Sherer said.

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