Greater Diaspora Efforts Required

The efforts of the diaspora will have to be increased in response to the growing needs of Israel, Michael M. Sacher, chairman of the Joint Palestine Appeal said here at the opening of the JPA’s conference marking Israel’s 25th anniversary.

“Although Israel is physically more secure than ever, internal social problems and the absorption of new olim continue to be urgent and pressing issues,” he said, “especially when viewed against the high cost of defense.” Sacher, a member of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency Board of Directors and chairman of the JTA London Committee, observed that the participation of the diaspora in solving the social and absorption problems “is now taken for granted.”

Moshe Rivlin, director general of the Jewish Agency who delivered the keynote address, said that “after 25 years we can say that Israel has fulfilled its mission as a Jewish State.” He noted that the 650,000 original citizens have absorbed over a million and a half new immigrants, established 500 agricultural settlements and 30 new towns and have laid the foundations for a thriving industry. Rivlin, a member of the JTA Board, said the most remarkable achievements were in the field of education. “In 1948 we had in Israel 100,000 school children and 1600 university students. In 1973 we have over 800,000 school children and 30,000 university students,” he said.

Ernest W. Michel, executive vice-president of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York. observed that of late the UJA and the JPA were, drawing closer in their approaches and methods. David and Irena Markish, the son and daughter-in-law of the late Soviet Yiddish poet Peretz Markish, said that the support and encouragement of Jews everywhere had sustained Soviet Jews In their struggle to assert their right to leave the Soviet Union.