Initial Phase of Greater N.Y. UJA 1973 Goal Raises Record-breaking $27.5m

The initial phase of the 1973 United Jewish Appeal campaign in New York City, Long Island and Westchester has raised a record-breaking $27.5 million. This was announced last night by the campaign chairmen, builder-philanthropist William J. Levitt and former Congressman Herbert Tenzer, after totalling up the results of the first major event of the campaign, the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York’s annual Pace Setters Dinner attended by contributors of $10,000 or more.

The two chairmen cited as the reason for such a result widespread awareness in the New York Jewish community of the unprecedented scope of the humanitarian needs arising in Israel out of large-scale immigration from the Soviet Union. With a total of 70,000 immigrants expected to reach Israel this year, New York UJA is aiming to raise $150 million in 1973.

Six hundred persons of prominence in the Jewish community attended the black-tie Pace Setters dinner Thursday evening at the New York Hilton. It opened a season of social function celebrating the forthcoming 25th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel.

A new subsidized housing program to build 1000 rental flats this year for young couples, was announced yesterday in Jerusalem by Housing Minister Zeev Sharef. He said the flats, to be distributed all over the country, would consist of two-and-a-half rooms with an area roughly of 60 square meters. The monthly rent will be fixed at IL 250.

Foreign Minister Mario Gibson Barboza of Brazil planted the first tree in a new Jewish National Fund forest near Modlin honoring the 150th anniversary of Brazil’s independence. The ceremonial planting was Barboza’s last official act, ending his four-day visit to Israel last week. JNF officials said the forest was Israel’s way of participating in Brazil’s anniversary celebrations.