A total of $20,152,000 in cash was presented here today to the United Jewish Appeal at the closing session of its two-day national conference attended by about 1,000 Jewish community leaders from all parts of the country. This brings the 1951 income of the U.J.A. to about $75,000,000, it was announced at the conference.
A resolution adopted unanimously at the parley calls upon all Jewish communities in the United States to intensify their efforts during the next two months “to provide the balance of $35,000,000 in cash” required by the United Jewish Appeal by the end of this year.
The resolution urged campaign organizations to press completion of the drive along these four lines: L To secure full payment in cash by contributors on their 1951 campaign pledges; 2. To secure bank loans against outstanding pledges; 3. To complete payments on 1951 and prior years’ allocations to the United Jewish Appeal by December 15; 4. To obtain advances against 1952 allotments through bank loans and advance payments by individuals.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Maurice J. Tobin, addressing the delegates, declared that aid given to Israel by the United Jewish Appeal can help the new state “become an important part of the bastion which the free world is seeking to build to stop the spread of Communism in the Near East.” Sec. Tobin, reporting to the conference on his recent visit to Israel, emphasized that “one of the things Israel needs most is good, hard cash to develop its economy so that it can produce more and export more.”
William Rosenwald, chairman of the special U.J.A. drive for $35,000,000 in cash, who presided at the opening session of the conference, told the delegates that “reports from all parts of the country on this drive for $35,000,000 are extremely gratifying” and that many communities have borrowed substantial funds from banks in order to meet the U.J.A.’s needs for cash with which to finance the emergency programs of its agencies.
WARBURG APPEALS FOR CONTINUED HIGH LEVEL CAMPAIGN WORK
Edward M.M. Warburg, U.J.A. general chairman, warned that “in the light of recent developments in other Near Eastern countries, it becomes a matter of utmost concern to Americans and free people everywhere that Israel be helped to secure her democracy on the firmest economic footing.” In this connection, he reported that of the $64,700,000 used by the U.J.A.’s constituent agencies–the United Palestine Appeal, Joint Distribution Committee, and United Service for New Americans– a total of 44,677,000 had been expended up to October 15 for programs of immigration, settlement and rehabilitation in Israel.
“Only courage of the highest order and faith in the future on the part of Israel’s people,” Mr. Warburg declared, “has kept the doors of Israel open in the face of mounting difficulties. Israel’s citizens have willingly shared their freedom and their bread alike with all who have come to its shores, in a manner which entitles them to the admiration of the free world.” He appealed for a continued high level of campaign activity to help the United Jewish Appeal realize its short-term $35,000,000 cash goal with which to tide Israel over her present crisis.
Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the Jewish Agency, told the conference that the United Jewish Appeal today occupies a pivotal positions in assuring the consolidation and strengthening of the State of Israel. “Nothing would do greater injury to Jewish populations waiting to emigrate to Israel from Eastern Europe and the Moslem world,” Dr. Goldmann declared, “and nothing would hurt Israel more, than a slowing down of the aid which has been made available to Israel through the United Jewish Appeal. And that is even truer today than at any previous time since establishment of the new state in May, 1948.”
Israel Ambassador Abba Eban said, “the continued success of the United Jewish Appeal as a source of free dollars for Israel is absolutely indispensable to our political and economic security.” Mr. Eban paid tribute to “the remarkably sympathetic action of the American people” in support of Israel and gave special praise to Congress in approving American aid to the new state. These actions, he said, plus the sale of Israel bonds in this country, “have enormously strengthened our prospect of building a healthy economic future.”
Mrs. S. Alexander Brailove, chairman of the U.J.A.’s National Women’s Division, reported to the conference that since January of this year the Jewish women of the United States have contributed a total of $10,000,000 to the Appeal’s nationwide campaign.
The delegates were shocked by the sudden death at this morning’s session of William Kayserling, 82-year-old father of Leon Kayserling, chairman of President Truman’s Council on Economic Affairs. Mr. Kayserling collapsed and died while participating in a symposlim on the needs of the Jews abroad. Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, executive vice-chairman of the U.J.A., who announced his death to the conference, said that Mr. Kayserling’s last words were: “We must save lives.”
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