The Canadian Jewish Congress has decided to sponsor the resettlement of 1000 Vietnamese boat people beyond the 8000 refugees the Canadian government has accepted for immigration, it was announced by Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut, president of the Congress. The process of resettlement, he said, will be a cooperative effort by Jewish communities throughout Canada. Local communities, synagogues, organizations and individuals are being urged to sponsor immigrants.
Martin Penn, coordinator of the project for the Congress, said the number of refugees involved represents “a few people in comparison with the real dimension of the task but it is a realistic project within our ###.” The Congress will also contribute $10,000 toward direct relief aid and will approach leaders of the non-Jewish community to intervene with the Canadian government to admit more boat people into the country. In addition, Jewish immigrant aid organizations are prepared to provide technical assistance, expedite employment and promote adoption and foster care.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
