Projection of a more aggressive stance by the community in support of aliya and, ultimately, to increase the number of Cleveland-area residents making aliya is the task undertaken by the newly created Regional Aliya Council here.
Meeting this past weekend at an all-day conference, 100 leaders of the Cleveland Jewish community aired their views on the problems facing the aliya movement and how these problems could be overcome through community support and involvement. Participants represented a broad cross section of the Cleveland Jewish community including rabbis, Federation executives, businessmen, students, teachers and other communal leaders.
A conceptual outgrowth of the National Aliya Planning Conference held last March, Cleveland is the third regional unit to be established. Councils were formed in Detroit and Miami last month.
ALIYA IS PRIORITY PROJECT
According to conference chairman Rabbi Arm and Cohen and Dr. Rowland Moskowitz, the general objectives of the all-day session were to dramatize the need for and support of aliya as a priority of the Cleveland Jewish community; to develop a concept to generate aliya; to produce a climate toward aliya within the community; to assist candidates; to provide opportunities for the creation of contacts with new olim; to follow up on those who have made aliya; and to establish a liaison mechanism with Israel to facilitate absorption.
The chairmen emphasized that the work of the Council would supplement and assist the Regional Israel Aliya Center shaliach. In addition to creating the Council, participants at the conference established seven committees, each charged with a phase of the overall objectives.
GOALS OF WORKING COMMITTEES
The seven working committees, and their goals, include; publicity–to foster a better understanding of the promises, problems and facts of aliya and to develop new and more effective techniques and programs; contact–to establish personal contact and dialogue with the aliya candidate and to work closely with the Aliya Center in promoting goals; service and information–to provide in-depth help and consideration of individual problems; to enlist consultants from the community; and to assist in the arrangement of pilot trips and job placement.
Also, aliya mechanics–to clarity steps involved in emigration and offer data on jobs, shipping, housing, schooling, loans, mortgages, customs and taxes; liaison–to establish liaison groups in Israel to receive and welcome the new olim, maintain contact with olim and offer assistance in overcoming problems; and ombudsman–to select and appoint a salaried ombudsman who will report to the Aliya Council, set up effective channels with Israeli government authorities, follow-up, direct and evaluate activities of ombudsman and maintain contact with key government personnel.
TOTAL INVOLVEMENT AIDS ALIYA
“The Cleveland Jewish community is to be commended,” said Sam Kadison, Israel Aliya Center consultant. “for the thorough planning and sincere thought that went into the conference.” Kadison made special note of the contributions of Herman Eigen, executive vice-president of the Cleveland Jewish Community Center, who conducted steering sessions in preparation for the conference.
“There is no doubt.” said Aliya Center shaliach Moshe Avnieli, “that the aliya effort throughout-North America will be greatly aided by the total involvement of the Jewish community. Such grass roots support, particularly with youth groups and in schools and campuses, should have a marked effect on future aliya statistics.”
According to Kadison, conferences will be conducted before the end of the year in Montreal, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Seattle and Los Angeles.
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