The first budget of the expanded Jewish Agency is expected to reach $601 million. Contributions from the United States will account for $400 million and the balance from other countries throughout the world. This was reported today at a press conference by Moshe Rivlin, Director General of the Jewish Agency, who noted it would be the agency’s first budget to be prepared by those members of the Executive heretofore outside the agency. The agency was expanded this summer to include 50 percent non-Zionist representation. The temporary budget committee is expected to meet in Jerusalem in January to work on details. The main portions of the budget, it appears, will be $180 million for housing, $80 million for higher education, $70 million for pre-kindergarten and secondary schools, $50 million for aliyah and absorption of 45-50,000 immigrants and $40 million for settlement–a total of $420 million.
The first meeting of the agency’s enlarged Assembly will be held next June 21, following final arrangements in April by the preparatory group. Mr. Rivlin said the effort to raise the $601 million would be carried out concurrent with an effort to foster Hebrew education in the diaspora. He said there are now 15,000 adults in Hebrew courses throughout the world and 250,000 children in Hebrew schools. The training of Hebrew teachers and schoolmasters for the diaspora is being initiated, he added. The Director General said some 8,000 United Jewish Appeal contributors will be arriving in Israel in 75 groups next year to study Israeli needs first-hand.
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