As an expression of its concern for the plight of the “Boat People.” Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion has arranged to sponsor an Indochinese refugee family, it was announced by Dr. Alfred Gottschalk, president. The sponsorship of the family is being arranged in cooperation with the International Rescue Committee.
The family consists of Thach Bao Cuong, 35, a school teacher who speaks fluent English, his 27-year-old wife and their 2-year-old son. Gottschalk said they will be brought to Los Angeles, where the college will provide housing and see to their other needs. In addition, the college will give employment at its Los Angeles school to Thach.
In another step to mobilize help for Indochinese refugees, Gottschalk has written to the rabbinic alumni of Hebrew Union College who lead the Reform congregations of the United States, urging that each congregation sponsor a refugee family. There are approximately 700 such congregations in the country. Gottschalk, as a member of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust, has written to President Carter to advise him of the steps he has taken. Gottschalk said he expected the family to arrive in the United States within six weeks.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
