44 American Jewish Leaders Fly to Israel Today to Discuss Financial Problems

A group of 44 outstanding American Jewish business and communal leaders have accepted the invitation of Prime Minister David Ben Gurion to attend a special conference on the economic and financial problems of Israel, which will be held in Jerusalem for three days beginning on Sunday, it was announced today by Abba Eban, Israel’s Ambassador-designate to the United States. The delegation is leaving by Air France tomorrow from Idlewild airfield.

Characterizing the Jerusalem conference as the most important meeting of American Jewish leaders to be held in Israel since the establishment of the Jewish state, Mr. Eban pointed out that the Government of Israel is faced with the need of drawing up a three-year immigration and development program and that it regards American participation an indispensable factor in the successful drafting and execution of such a program.

The organizations which were invited by Prime Minister Ben Gurion to take part in the meeting were the United Jewish Appeal, Joint Distribution Committee, United Palestine Appeal and Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. Mr. Ben Gurion was joined by Berl Locker, chairman of the executive of the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem, in convening the conference which will take place at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.

“The Prime Minister of Israel has called the meeting in Jerusalem to acquaint American Jewish representatives with the economic and financial problems that will confront the country in the next three years” Mr. Kban said. “The Government of Israel wishes to consult with the American delegation before any plans are crystallized. Therefore no concrete proposals will be placed before the delegation by the Prime Minister. The Government will take definits action on its program after it has had an opportunity to study the recommendations of the U.S. delegation.

“Rather than proceed on a yearly basis, we find it absolutely necessary to formulate our program for the period through 1952 in order to cope with the needs of receiving and absorbing a minimum of 600,000 immigrants during those three years. The total funds required from all sources for this purpose amount to $1,500,000,000. It will be the task of the conference in Jerusalem to consider all avenues of economic and financial support and to weigh the possibilities of major American participation in a three-year program of such proportions,” Mr. Eban stated.

The following is a list of the American Jewish leaders who will participate in the Jerusalem conference which will be presided over by Prime Minister Ben Gurion: Herbert R. Abeles, Martin Abelove, Henry C. Bernstein, Philip Bernstein, Mrs. S. A. Brailove, Benjamin G. Browdy, Otto Bresky, Mrs. Katharine S. Falk, Abraham Feinberg, Julian Freeman, Monroe Goldwater, Sidney Green, Mrs. Rose Halprin, Gottlieb Hammer, Joseph Hondin.

Also, A.S. Kay, Moses A. Leavitt, Dr. Harris Levine, Harold F. Linder, Phil W. Lown, Boris Margolin, Joseph Meyerhoff, Edward Mitchell, Fred Monosson, Henry Montor, Louis S. Myers, Stanley G. Myers, Robert R. Nathan, Irving Norry, Oscar Pattiz, Adolf Robison, Charles J. Rosenbloom, Ellis Redinsky, Samuel Rothberg, Judge Morris Rothenberg, Albert Schiff, Robert W. Schiff, Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, Nathan Shainberg, Morris Shapiro, Joseph Shulmar, Rudolf G. Sonneborn, Meyer F. Steingless, and Julian B. Venezky.