Israel Institutions Asked for Views on Joint Drive in United States

The Israel Government and the Jewish Agency have requested the Hebrew University, the Haifa Technion and the Weizmann Institute to submit, within three weeks, their views on five basic conditions for unification of fund-raising in the United States for the three institutions of higher learning, it was revealed here today by Meyer W. Weisgal, chairman of the executive council of the Weizmann Institute, following his arrival from Israel.

“Fund-raising unification for Israel’s three institutions of higher learning is inevitable and imperative in the interest of the State of Israel, as well as for the benefit of American Jewry, Mr. Weisgal stated. He reported that he had projected a unification plan in a 15,000-word memorandum which was circulated to the top Jewish leadership in the United States and Israel.

In this evaluation, Mr. Weisgal made 12 cardinal recommendations, among them: 1. That a budget of $8, 000,000 for the three institutions be covered by the welfare funds, the Jewish Agency, the Israel Government and contributions from countries outside the United States; 2. That no separate campaign be undertaken by the University-Institute-Technion except at the request of the Jewish Agency; 3. That one central office with separate departments for each institution be established in New York; and 4. That an independent commission be set up to study measures leading toward increased cooperation and, if feasible, eventual unification of the three institutions in Israel. The “Royal” commission, as he calls it, is also charged with the task of determining the maintenance budget and capital expenditures of the three institutions.

Mr. Weisgal, who is also executive vice-chairman of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute, indicated that broad areas of agreement on the implementation of the plan had been staked out at his recent conference and conversations in Israel with members of the Cabinet, leaders of the Agency and representatives of the three institutions. Before leaving Israel, Mr. Weisgal appointed Harold Goldenberg, treasurer and acting chairman of the administrative committee of the Weizmann Institute, and Dr. Benjamin Block, administrative director, to represent the Institute at subsequent meetings.

Referring to a JTA dispatch that Dr. George Wise, chairman of the Hebrew University’s board of governors, had submitted the University’s proposals for unification to the Israel Government and to the Jewish Agency, Mr. Weisgal greeted Dr. Wise’s response to the plan with deep satisfaction. “Although they do not go far enough, Dr. Wise’s proposals provide a basis for discussions on the implementation of the plan, ” he added.

Mr. Weisgal revealed also that he had received word from Israel that the committee on unification, composed of representatives of the Israeli Government, the Jewish Agency and the three institutions, was making good progress. He said that he was especially pleased to learn that Dr. Joseph Schwartz, executive head of the U. J. A. now in Israel, is participating in the discussions.