Labor Shortage May Arise in Palestine, Jewish Labor Federation Council Says

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Jewish unemployment in Palestine has considerably decreased, it was stated at the meeting of the Council of the General Jewish Labor Federation in session in Tel Aviv. Seventeen hundred and seventy-five workers obtained employment since January. The number of unemployed at present does not exceed 2,500. Several plans have been drafted which could absorb all unemployed, these plans including works by the Government, the Zionist Executive and the Tel Aviv municipality, provided the Government extends the projected £15,000 loan.

In the colonies 6,304 Jewish workers are employed. An additional 10,000 dunams are being planted for orange growing this year. If the same area is planted in 1929, there will be a shortage of labor.

The delegates from the colonies all agreed that more Jewish labor is now employed in the colonies and that at Petach Tikvah also the position has greatly improved.

Twenty-two charity agencies, mostly Jewish, are beneficlaries in the will of Benjamin B. Friedenwald which was probated in the Orphans’ Court, granting bequests of $34,000.

Charitable bequests, contained in the will of William H. Marcus, were made to the Associated Jewish Charities, Hebrew Orphan Asylum, Hebrew Hospital and Asylum Association and the Jewish Home for Consumptives, and the Hospital for Consumptives of Maryland.

The Jewish Welfare Board’s annual lecture and concert tour, arranged for Jewish Centers in the east, mid-west, and south, which was begun in November, has just been concluded.

The organizations under whose auspices the lectures and concerts were given included: United Hebrew Community, Schenectady, N.Y., J.Y.M.A., Rochester, N.Y., Jewish Community Center, Canton, O.: Y.M.H.A.Y.W.H.A. Community Center, Kansas City, Mo.; Y.M.H.A.-Y.W.H.A., St, Lonis, Mo,; Y.M.H.A., Chattanooga, Tenn.: Jewish Educational Allinnce, Savannah, Ga.; Jewish Center, Jacksonville, Fla.

The attendance of the series was approximately 16,000.

Work was started on the erection of the Beth El Temple in Harrisburg, which will house the Conservative congregation of the city that was organized two years ago.

The edifice will contain an anditorium, seating 500 persons, and a hall accommodating 1000 persons.

The building will cost about $100,000. It will be completed by August 20 and be ready for the High holidays in September, Rabbi Joel S. Geffen is rabbi of the congregation. Henry H. Brenner is president. Philip H. Caplan is chairman of the building committee.

Construction on East Midwood Jewish Centre, Brooklyn, will be begun soon, it was announced. Lack of funds caused a suspension in the building operations which were started in 1925. Louis Greenfield, Chairman of the Building Committee, stated it is expected that the synagogue will be completed in the fall of this year.