American Ort Votes $2,707,000 for Vocational Education in 19 Lands

The American ORT Federation today approved, at its national convention here, a decision to contribute $2,707,000 for ORT programs of vocational training of Jewish youths in 19 lands. The total cost of worldwide operations this year is anticipated at about $6,750,000. The difference between this sum and the American contribution will be raised by the World ORT Union in other countries.

The convention ratified the ORT agreement with the Joint Distribution Committee under which the JDC will provide $1,800,000 this year for ORT activities. The Women’s American ORT is expected to raise $907,000 from its membership in 1961.

Dr. William Haber, president of American ORT, announced that the organization would support a program of economic rehabilitation and occupational training for more than 40,000 Jews overseas during 1961. The main areas in which ORT vocational training services are to be provided are Israel, Poland, North Africa, Western Europe and Iran.

Among the new projects to be undertaken during the coming year, including several of a “technical assistance” nature, Dr. Haber listed: 1. The establishment by ORT of a vocational school in Bombay, India, the first such school for Jews in the country; 2. The organization by ORT, in a joint undertaking with the Government of Israel, of an international center for technical education of youth from newly independent African states; 3. The training of instructors for trade schools in Nigeria, Mali, Ghana and other African states at the ORT Central Institute for Teachers Training in Switzerland.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY, VICE-PRESIDENT JOHNSON LAUD ORT WORK OVERSEAS

President John F. Kennedy, in a message to the convention, lauded the organization’s vocational training activities overseas. “Your vocational training activities in 19 countries represent a constructive work on a people-to-people level which deserves approbation,” President Kennedy declared. “Your vocational training schools have brought hope to the homeless and to the underprivileged, to the refugees and to the displaced. This training has helped them achieve individual confidence and personal security, with resulting benefits accruing to their families, to their communities and to their nations.”

Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson, in a message to the convention, described ORT as “one of the most important of the activities that can be undertaken to help promote mutual understanding in the world.” Other messages were received from Israel Ambassador Avraham Harman, and Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Abraham Ribicoff.

Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, executive vice-president of the Israel Bond Organization, told an afternoon session that Israel’s increasing drive for industrialization is threatened by a “growing shortage of skilled labor.” He urged ORT to step up its technical training service to turn out larger numbers of skilled workmen for the country’s factories.

Other principal speakers at the convention were Senator Jacob Javits and former Senator Herbert H. Lehman, both emphasizing the importance of the ORT work. The convention re-elected Dr. Haber as president. Other officers elected included George J. Mintzer, chairman of the executive committee; Harry Greenberg, chairman of the Administrative committee, Alexander Dolowitz, treasurer and Charles Kreindler, secretary.