Argentine Jewry to Deal with Crisis Affecting Community

A special assembly of representatives of all segments of Argentine Jewry, under the auspices of the Argentine Federation of Jewish Communities, has declared that Jewish institutional life is in a state of emergency and established priorities in dealing with the crisis.

The priorities call for schools being helped first, then health centers, religious bodies, followed by other institutions. An emergency committee headed by Dr. Mario Gorenstein, president of the Federation and the Buenos Aires Kehilla, was set up to deal with the problem. The plight of Jewish institutions because of the economic crisis in Argentina was also deplored last week at a conference of the Argentine Labor Zionist Movement.

Dr. Gorenstein told the assembly that the Argentine Jewish community should be able to find means of meeting the economic crisis faced by Jewish institutions before appealing for aid from abroad. Alfredo Berlfein, representative of the Joint Distribution Committee here, stressed that overlapping and duplication should be avoided by institutions here.

Another speaker, Dr. Tobias Kamenszain, stressed the importance of reaching wealthy Jews here who he said seldom participate in communal affairs. Marc Turkow, secretary general of the Latin American Jewish Congress, also castigated the indifference of those who do not involve themselves in community problems.

Among others named to the committee headed by Dr. Gorenstein, are: Raul Marchevsky and Pedro Graiver, respectively head of the Jewish communities in Mendoza and La Plata; Dr. Ruben Beraja and Julio Masri, representing the Sephardic community, and Roberti Meliar and Jose Furmansky of the Jewish sports and social clubs.