Dr. Goldmann Reports on Jewish Agency’s “pay As You Go” Immigration Policy in Israel

A “pay as you go” policy in the matter of immigration to Israel, envisaging an immigration of 12,000 monthly instead of the 20,000 of last year, but subject to modification at three-month intervals has been decided upon by the Jewish Agency, Dr. Nahwn Goldmann declared today on his return from Jerusalem where he attended the three-week session of the Jewish Agency executive.

Dr. Goldmann, chairman of the American section of the Jewish Agency, said that the decision was taken because of the mounting debt incurred in financing the large immigration of the past and was based on calculated income for 1950. In the event of an emergency, however, such as the possible lifting by a country such as Rumania of its ban on immigration to Israel, the limit set would be waived. It would also be waived, he said, if more funds were available from America.

Dr. Goldmann emphasized also that the decision in no way altered the principle of unlimited immigration. Any Jew who can finance his own way will be admitted to Israel, he said. The executive, Dr. Goldmann said, devoted much thought to plans for stimulating the American Chalutziut movement. In proportion to the population, Jewish immigration from the United States was infinitesimal, he added.

Referring to the complaints concerning the type of education given children in immigrant reception camps, Dr. Goldmann said that this arose from transitional causes. The school system, he said, was based at present on ideological foundations and the great majority of immigrant children who came to Israel were Orthodox. He added that reports of what had occurred had been greatly exaggerated. Both the government and the Jewish Agency subscribe to the “principle that children shall be raised in accordance with the religious precepts of their parents,” he declared.