Agency Will Need $150,000,000 in Coming Year, Dr. Goldmann Reports

The Jewish Agency will need nearly $150,000,000 during the coming year to fulfill tasks assigned it by the 23rd World Zionist Congress, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, co-chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive, reported here today. He said the agency’s long range needs “highlight its immediate and critical need for cash now in order to keep Israel’s immigration and absorption program gong from day to day.”

He disclosed that prefabricated houses purchased in Germany through the Jewish Restitution Successor Organization, are already being shipped to Israel. The JRSO has already collected about $17,000,000, he said, of which two-thirds will go to the Jewish Agency for housing, and one-third to the Joint Distribution Committee for hospital purchases. He expressed the hope that ultimately considerable sums in raw materials and fabricated goods would be realized.

Reviewing the work of the 23rd World Zionist Congress over which he presided in Jerusalem, Dr. Goldmann said he believed that “the Congress, by clearing away many doubts and by clarifying relations between the movement and the State, has laid firm foundations for revitalization of the world Zionist movement.” He expressed gratification that the Zionist Organization of America is now represented in both sections of the Jewish Agency executive.

Referring to the special status to be granted to the Jewish Agency by the Israel Government, Dr. Goldmann said the organization will become “the representative and spokesman for the whole Jewish people in all matters concerning Israel.” He added that “under this status, all organizations – whether Zionist or non-Zionist-seeking to operate philanthropically in Israel, must first seek approval from the Jewish Agency as the executive arm of the World Zionist Organization. Thus, for the first time, initial responsibility for all outside philanthropic work in Israel will be centralized in a single agency. Duplication of operations and of fund-raising, as well as waste of funds on enterprises of secondary importance, can thus be avoided.”

He stressed that the status will not apply in relation to pro-Israel activities entirely outside of the borders of the Jewish state. “In this connection,” he said, “it was agreed that whenever the State is interested in obtaining Jewish support in the Diaspora, it will consult with the Jewish Agency on general plans. There after, the State will naturally be free to approach any individual or group it sees fit.”