Jewish Community Life in War-torn Countries Becoming Stabilized, Ort Heads Report

A marked increase in the number of Jewish institutions in Europe as well as greater Jewish participation in the productive life of Europe are the first indications that Jewish communities in the war-torn countries are gradually becoming stabilized, it was stated by Dr. Aaron Syngalowski and Dr. David Lvovitch, co-chairmen of the World Union, in the course of reports to a meeting of the administrative committee of the organization.

Dr. Syngalowski said 267 ORT trade schools and training workshops are now functioning in ten European countries excluding Germany. The institutions include 105 new schools and training workshops established during the past four months in Bulgaria, Rumania, Hungary, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland and Czechoslovakia, in addition to seven agricultural schools.

Up to December, he reported, over 7,500 Jewish youths and adults received vocational training in ORT schools and workshops and 3,600 displaced Jews attended courses in ORT schools in camps in the American zone of Germany. He declared that the development of ORT activities in Poland was especially gratifying. In all, 24 new trade schools and shops were established in the country.

In France and Belgium, Dr. Syngalowski told the committee, the ORT schools give short intensive training courses for refugees streaming into the countries. Although private industry is unwilling to hire the refugees as apprentices, they can readily find jobs after they have acquired a basic skill. Preparations are being made for more extensive training in Western Europe, particularly in France, he said.

Trained ORT instructors have been sent to Italy where the organization maintains fourteen schools, including a trade school for girls in Rome, he continued. He concluded his report by citing the recent consignment of nine large transports of supplies and equipment to nations in Western and Eastern Europe.