Mrs. Jacobson Says Israelis Expressing Renewed Optimism

“The Jewish people have always reacted to adversity in what others would consider irrational ways” Mrs. Charlotte Jacobson, Chairman of the World Zionist Organization — American Section, commented as she left for a month’s tour which will take her first to London this weekend, for a meeting of the Conference of Jewish Organizations, of which she is acting chairman, and then to an extended tour of Australia on behalf of the Karen Hayseed, Foundation Fund of the World Zionist Organization.

“The Israelis today are following the same pattern,” she said, pointing out that in the wake of the shake-up in the top echelons of the Israel Defense Forces after the Tom Kippur War more young draftees than ever before are volunteering for hazardous duty. Fully a third are opting for service with the paratroops, the Air Force and special naval units. “The highest volunteer rate, significantly enough– almost half– is from among those with the highest educational level” Mrs. Jacobson said.

At the same time — despite a recent spate of newspaper stories to the contrary fewer Israelis are leaving for residence abroad and an Increasing number, many of whom have established themselves in the professions or in American academic life, are returning to resume their lives in Israel, she observed. “Crisis situations seem to attract them,” Mrs. Jacobson declared. More than a thousand professionals have applied for help in reestablishing themselves in Israel, and the Bureau for Israeli Professionals has received applications from an additional two thousand, for whom it is now seeking positions in Israel.”

Continuing, she said: “We are quick to paint dismal pictures, but they should not be taken over literally since they are generally more a matter of mood than of the reality.” The first 26 years of Israel’s history as a modern state have shown how vital and basically healthy a society it is. Mrs. Jacobson said.