JEWISH AGENCY DEFICIT DISCUSSED AT ACTION COMMITTEE
The Jewish Agency deficit during the first nine months of the current year was 9,000,000 Israeli pounds, Dr. G. Josephtal, treasurer, reported today at the meeting of the World Zionist Actions Committee. He added that 2,500,000 pounds of the deficit was covered by long-term loans.
Zalman Shazar, head of the education department of the Jewish Agency, reported that approximately 70 percent of the Jewish youth in countries outside of Israel barely know the Hebrew alphabet. He described the difficulties in the field of promoting Jewish education abroad, pointing out that in 22 countries there is an acute shortage of teachers.
Touching upon the situation in the countries behind the Iron Curtain, he said that in the Soviet Union alone there are today about 400,000 Jewish youths barred from any kind of Jewish teaching. In the Western Hemisphere, he reported, Mexico is the most promising country, since 85 percent of the Jewish children there receive a Jewish education.
Mr. Shazar estimated that 75 percent of all the Jewish children in the United States do not receive any kind of Jewish education. His report made a strong impression on the members of the Actions Committee.
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