A global program for the revival and stimulation of Jewish educational and cultural activities throughout the world was adopted here today by the Assembly of the World Jewish Congress. The Assembly, which has been meeting here the last ten days, with 300 delegates from 40 countries in attendance, decided that at least 20 percent of the World Jewish Congress budget be spent on the newly-revitalized educational and cultural program.
Included in the program are the following items: 1. Establishment of a central Jewish high school, probably in Europe, for Jewish students from all over the world; 2, Creation of local Jewish cultural committees by all communities affiliated with the WJC that do not as yet have such committees; 3. The convening of regional WJC conferences in the future prior to world-wide sessions of the plenary Assembly; 4. Increased cooperation between the WJC and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Other portions of the program call for the publication of a Jewish journal of sociology; establishment of a Jewish Teachers Seminary for the training of teachers for higher grades of Jewish secondary schools, so that such teachers might serve communities that cannot establish teachers’ seminaries of their own; sponsorship of Jewish educational materials in Spanish for the children of 750,000 Jews in Latin America; provision of teachers, free books and scholarships in Jewish education for Jewish children in India.
WILL CONVENE GLOBAL CONFERENCE OF JEWISH EDUCATORS
A proposal to convene a global conference of Jewish educators in 1960 was also approved by the Assembly. Fears by some leaders of Mizrachi that the Congress itself will enter the field of education through conduct of its own educational programs were allayed by Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the Congress.
Dr. Goldmann assured the Mizrachi delegates that the Congress will not itself enter the functional phase of Jewish education and that, in any case, Mizrachi will be consulted during the implementation of the program voted today. With the Mizrachi acceptance of Dr. Goldmann’s assurance, the program was voted unanimously.
A major aim of the educational program will be the stimulation and development of Jewish day schools which the program describes as “the fundamental instrument for Jewish survival in lands outside Israel.” Jewish communities throughout the world are urged in the plan to provide adequate financial means for the establishment and maintenance of day schools.
Another group of delegates, in addition to Mizrachi, was assured by Dr. Goldmann that the Congress will do its utmost to associate their constituents with Congress work “as closely as possible.” These delegates represent the Sephardic communities.
SEPHARDI DELEGATE REPORTS ON PROBLEMS OF ORIENTAL JEWS IN ISRAEL
Eliahu Eliachar, vice-president of the World Sephardic Union, and president of the Sephardic Community of Jerusalem, told the Assembly of difficulties experienced by Oriental Jews who settle in Israel. He declared that the “sociological, educational, housing, and employment difficulties” faced by these Jews in Israel “cannot be tolerated.”
Mr. Eliachar called upon world Jewry to help solve these problems facing Oriental Jews in Israel, by paying special attention to: 1. Educational and vocational training facilities for the Oriental Jews; 2, Creation of greater facilities for their constructive and productive employment; 3. Special assistance to large families; 4. Establishment of seminaries and development of the post-graduate college which the Sephardic Federation has established in Jerusalem; 5. Abolition of the slums in the “maabarot” the “temporary” camps for immigrants in Israel.
Mr. Eliachar also urged the convening of a world conference of Sephardi and Ashkenazic Jews, to be called jointly by the World Jewish Congress and the World Sephardi Union.
Meanwhile, the political commission of the Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution sharply criticizing the “inadmissible racial persecution” directed against former Egyptian Jews by the United Arab Republic. The resolution called upon the United Nations and upon all member states of the UN to “impress upon the Egyptian Government the need to end this discrimination.”
The resolution pointed out that Egypt has invoked “confiscatory measures” against the Egyptian Jewish refugees who have been refused the benefits promised by Egypt in its treaties with France and Britain for settlement of claims arising from Egypt’s sequestration of property after the Suez campaign had been launched in 1956.
Socialist delegates from Israel and from other countries attending the WJC Assembly were feted at a luncheon here today tendered by the Swedish Social Democratic Party. Among the official hosts were three members of the Swedish Cabinet: Gunner Lange, Minister for Commerce; Miss Ulla Lindstrom, Minister of Population; and Forster Nielson, Minister for Social Welfare.
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