Israel’s top priorities of security, housing for Israelis and new-comers and absorption of immigrants are much more difficult to achieve in a time of inflation and recession Israel is facing now, Leon Dulzin, treasurer of the Jewish Agency, declared here today. He briefed key leaders of the Canadian Zionist Federation at a luncheon given him by the Federation.
Stressing the importance of the Zionist organizations in recent fund-raising campaigns, he said last year’s “unprecedented success” must be matched this year because Israel’s financial needs have not diminished with the disengagement accords adopted after the Yom Kippur War.
“The integration of olim from the Soviet Union, particularly academicians who have to be re-trained or ‘re-cycled,’ are a challenge to Israel’s resourcefulness and imagination,” Dulzin told the Zionist leaders. “Considerable funds are necessary for every single one of them. Throughout the diaspora, we must continue to emphasize the centrality of Israel in the Jewish world.”
Dulzin said the Zionist idea was becoming a reality in circles which were hitherto closed to its reception. He cited the example of Reform congregations which have joined the Zionist movement and of the Conservative movement which he said was about to follow. He commended the Canadian Jewish community for its top performance in all matters relating to fund raising for Israel and in spreading the word of Zionism.
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