Jewish Agency Reorganization Analyzed by Mrs. Halprin in New York

The plans for the reorganization of the structure of the Jewish Agency for Israel adopted at the recent meetings in Jerusalem were characterized today as “a major step forward” by Mrs. Rose L. Halprin, chairman of the Jewish Agency-American Section. Speaking at a press conference, Mrs. Halprin said that the September meeting of the executive of the World Zionist Organization was “probably the most important meeting held by the group since the early days of Israel’s Statehood.

“For some years now,” she said, “the Zionist movement has been considering a reorganization of its legislative bodies, and its executive arm, the Jewish Agency. Such a reorganization is inevitably a painful and difficult experience, and any organization that does so willingly on its own should be applauded.

“The changes, reducing the Jewish Agency structure from sixteen to eight or nine departments, are designed to make the Jewish Agency viable in a Jewish State almost twenty years old; they represent a change in program and function and will result in greater efficiency and economy. The reorganization is more than a matter of economy –though the fact that the Jewish Agency budget will be reduced by $15, 000, 000 in the process must not be overlooked.

“The projected reorganization of the Jewish Agency, which places all immigration settlement and absorption programs under one department, streamlines the techniques to facilitate and expedite the reception, settlement and absorption of new immigrants. The work of absorption must be intensified and expanded; the new immigrants from North Africa and from oriental countries must be completely integrated. There must be only one Israel, with all its citizens equal in opportunity and training. There is also the need of developing new and better techniques for the handling of Western aliyah.”