Premier Eshkol told the final dinner session of the world convention of Keren Hayesod that if world Jewry will “give us the means and the Jews, we shall double our number within two decades.” Israel now has over 2,000,000 Jews.
Premier Eshkol called the Keren Hayesod the “strongest link” in the chain joining Israel with Jews outside of Israel. Dr. Israel Goldstein, Keren Hayesod world chairman, also asked world Jewry for increased aid. He said that in addition to physical pioneering in Israel there should be a readiness to aid Israel with financial help
Louis Pincus, the Jewish Agency treasurer, warned that unless the needed funds for Israel were made available, there would be no way to avoid cutting essential services. Reports of the delegates revealed generally an increase in income but those from South America and South Africa reported that difficulties had arisen stemming from foreign exchange regulations and devaluation affecting campaigns in several countries.
Bernard Ferster of Australia suggested an appeal be made to survivors of the Nazi holocaust and who were now prosperous to “return your debt” to the Jewish organizations which helped them to return to normal lives.
The delegates adopted a resolution that world Jewry should assume responsibility for two-thirds of the cost of immigration and absorption costs with Israel paying the other third. Another resolution called on Jewries outside of Israel, with the exception of American Jewry, to increase fund-raising by a minimum of $20,000,000 over the next four years. The delegates sent their best wishes to Moshe Sharett, chairman of the Jewish Agency executive, who is in a hospital.
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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.
