1,000 Jewish Youths Trained in U.S. for Settlement in Israel, Hechalutz Parley Hears

Approximately 1,000 American Jewish youths have been trained by the Hechalutz in this country during the past two years and many of them went to Israel, it was reported here today by Yehuda Messinger, executive secretary of the Hechalutz Organization of America, which opened its three-day national convention at Adelphi Hall here.

Mr. Messinger said that at present, on the eight training farms maintained by the Hechalutz in the United States, a capacity enrollment of 250 youths is completing agricultural training in conjunction with studies of the Hebrew language and culture. Because of limited facilities, there is a backlog of over 300 applicants awaiting opportunities for similar training, he stated. Over 100 pioneer aspirants have already completed training and are awaiting transportation to Israel.

“The Hechalutz Organization,” Mr. Messinger said, “does not urge a mass Chalutz movement from the United States such as has characterized the European movement. Nor does Hechalutz see the necessity of such a movement at this time. But it becomes clear from a simple examination of figures that the total contribution of American manpower to Israel falls far short of what it should be. It is entirely possible for ten times more Chalutzim, than are presently doing so, to emigrate to Israel yearly, without America or American Jewry being the least bit poorer for it. Such a migration would have immense value for the newly established outpost of democracy in the Middle East. But lack of support on the part of American Jewry and insufficient facilities of Hechalutz have prevented the numbers of Chalutzim to Israel from reaching significant proportions.”

800 American Jews Settled in Israel Since Establishment of Jewish State

Zvi Lurie, member of the Jewish Agency executive, disclosed that from the day of the establishment of the Jewish state until Jan. 1, 1950, about 800 settlers from the United States went to Israel. Of this number, about 500 were Chalutzim. During the same period about 15,000 American tourists visited Israel. He revealed that in the course of the current year about 500 Chalutzim from America will go to Israel.

Declaring that the contribution from America to Chalutz immigration to Israel is “still very small,” Mr. Lurie said: “There are two reasons for this–Jewish and Zionist neglect, and internal obstacles in the American Jewish community.” He criticized the Zionist movement in America for its inadequate support of American Jewish youths wishing to go to Israel as Chalutzim. “There is always the scarecrow of dual allegiance, but only people with a weak national consciousness and insecurity in this country develop this inferiority complex,” he said.

Baruch Zuckerman, president of the Labor Zionist Organization of America and a member of the Jewish Agency executive, similarly criticized the Zionist movement in the United States for not giving stronger support to the Hechalutz movement in this country. He warned that Zionism in America will be faced with the danger of collapse if organized Zionist bodies will not give greater support to the Hechalutz organization.