Dr. Syngalowski Arrives in U.S. to Confer with J. D.c. Leaders

Dr. Aron Syngalowski, president of the World ORT Union, arrived here from Geneva to negotiate with leaders of the Joint Distribution Committee for the renewal of the yearly arrangement under which the ORT receives funds from JDC for its activities. During 1953, the World ORT Union received $1,100,000 from the JDC towards its projects in Europe, Israel, North Africa and Iran on which it spent over $3,000,000 Dr. Syngalowski stated upon his arrival.

“More than 17,000 persons–mechanics, wood-workers, electricians, radio technicians, watchmakers–studied in ORT’s schools for youth and courses for adults in the past school year,” the ORT leader reported. “Of them, 3,600 were graduated as qualified craftsmen. With the exception of those graduates of schools in Israel who are serving in the Israeli Army, all of the graduates, even those in Italy, have found employment in their trade.”

ORT’s schools are so filled to capacity that 1,200 candidates for admission in Morocco, France and Israel had to be turned away, Dr. Syngalowski said. He emphasized that in addition to the trade school students, ORT this year had 1,338 apprentices placed in training in privately owned workshops operated by master craftsmen. Among these masters there were many who had themselves been trained by ORT.

Dr. Syngalowski stressed that great progress had been made in the field of Jewish studies in ORT schools, “In the Central ORT Institute in Geneva, where trade teachers for ORT’s schools in every country are trained, the systematic study of Judaism from ancient Jewish civilization to the spiritual creation and Jewish way of life of the 20th century has been intensified, ” he said. “Among the students of the Institute there are over 30 young men from Israel, who are acquiring in addition to technical and pedagogic training, a knowledge of Jews and Judaism which is increasing their interest and respect for Jewry around the world, ” he revealed.