Although the Jewish community of this city is one of the biggest and most effective centers of Jewish strength in the world, the maze of Jewish organizations lacks an important unifying factor, Benjamin Abileah, Deputy Consul-General of Israel to New York told the JTA today. Abileah spoke after a luncheon sponsored by the American Zionist Federation, which honored him at the completion of his 11-month tour of duty in New York.
“I was critical of the situation in New York when I first came here,” said Abileah, “and although the city’s Jewish community has responded promptly, warmly and effectively to Israel’s needs this year, the unifying factor is not there. There is a need for a city-wide coordinating committee. It would help this community’s work become even more effective.”
Abileah will return to Israel next Tuesday after five years in the United States. Before becoming Deputy Consul-General last year he served for four years as the Consul for Information for the Southwest, based in Los Angeles. He is returning to Israel after holding four foreign-based posts in succession. Abileah’s successor in New York is Amos Ganor.
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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.