Canadian Jewish Groups Issue Appeal to Aid Emigration from Rumania

Leaders of all major Canadian organizations appealed to Canadian Jews today to give greater financial support to the movement of Jews from Eastern Europe, particularly from Rumania to Israel. The appeal was made following a conference attended by 105 Jewish leaders at the Royal York Hotel. The conference was convoked ever by Samuel Bronfman and Lawrence Freiman, co-chairmen of the National Fund Raising Council for Israel and Overseas

Leaders of the conference called upon members of the participating organizations to give “maximum support” to a special fund-raising campaign for $1,600, 000 as Canada’s share in financing the transport and resettlement of the emigrants from Rumania this year. The emigration and its impact on Israel’s people was described by Arthur Lourie, Israel Ambassador to Canada, as well as by Mr. Freiman and Mr. Bronfman.

Ambassador Lourie termed the sudden emigration from Rumania and Eastern Europe “one of the utmost urgency.” He called attention to the determination of Israel to “do its share and more than its share,” and added: “But without the unstinted participation of our fellow Jews in the free world, we shall not succeed.”

Mr. Freiman said that the vast human need resulting from the pressure of immigration “was a matter of honor, a responsibility to be accepted by the Canadian Jewish community and Jews throughout the world, rather than shouldered by hard-pressed Israel.”

Mr. Bronfman called attention to the multitude of problems created for Israel by the sudden influx of tens of thousands of immigrants, and asked the delegates to take back to the organizations and communities “a deep personal understanding of this massive emergency facing our people.” He urged “top priority giving” to help meet the needs of the newcomers.

The conference adopted a resolution calling for the creation of additional goals in special campaigns to be held in the Jewish communities of the country.