15 National Zionist Groups Issue Call for ‘priority’ Giving to U.J.A.

A call to every member of the American Jewish Community to give “full priority” to the current United Jewish Appeal effort to raise $60,000,000 in a general campaign and $35,000,000 in a Special Fund to help the “greatly increased immigration” to Israel was issued here today by leaders of 15 national Zionist organizations. The call was released by the American section of the Jewish Agency executive. It reads as follows:

“In 1962, the people of Israel will have to absorb a greatly increased immigration from danger areas which will strain their capacity to the utmost. The people of Israel are already welcoming waves of newcomers. They have already increased their own taxes, both direct and indirect, and in addition have inaugurated a compulsory loan to help in the absorption of the newcomers. But despite all the sacrifices they are making, they will not have sufficient resources to provide the homes, the training, the care that will be needed to receive the newcomers and start them on the road to self-support.

“In view of this emergency, we call upon every member of the American Jewish community to give fullest support and service to the current UJA effort to raise the $60,000,000 goal of the general campaign as well as the $35,000,000 Special Fund which must provide the funds to effectively and speedily transport, resettle and absorb these immigrants. Only by giving UJA full priority in both thought and deed can the Jewish people hope to take advantage of the great opportunity for saving thousands of lives and making them worth living.

“We call upon all Zionists and Zionist groups to carry forward the task of saving lives and strengthening Israel’s free and democratic people by assuming the role of peacemakers in the 1962 UJA drive and by setting an example to others in the generosity of their giving and the zeal of their efforts.”

The appeal was signed by Samuel H. Daroff, president of the American Jewish League for Israel; Norman G. Levine, president of Bnai Zion;, Meyer L. Brown, president of Farband, Labor Zionist Order; Mrs. Lola Kramarsky, president of Hadassah; Albert Schiff, president of the Jewish National Fund; Pinchas Cruso, president of the Lab or Zionist Organization of America-Poale Zion; Mrs. Moses Dyckman, president of Mizrachi Women’s Organization of America; Joseph Schlossberg, president of the National Committee for Labor Israel.

Also by Mrs. Clara Leff, president of Pioneer Women; Avraham Schenker, president of the Progressive Zionist League (Hashomer Hatzair); Rabbi Mordecai Kirshblum, president of the Religious Zionists of America (Mizrachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi); Paul L. Goldman, general secretary of the United Labor Zionist Party; Dewey D. Stone, chairmen of the United Israel Appeal; Dr. Joseph Schechtman, chairman of the National Council of the United Zionists Revisionists of America and Max Bressler, president of the Zionist Organization of America.