Virtual completion of the United Jewish Appeal’s emergency campaign organization was announced today by Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, executive vice-chairman, with the disclosure that 35 outstanding Jewish leaders have accepted regional chairmanships and 19 others will serve as group chairman in the U.J.A. Trade and Industry Division. They complement the campaign cabinet of 36 who are sharing active leadership and direction of the campaign.
The 1951 U.J.A. campaign, under the stress of urgent need to move 100,000 Jews from Eastern European and Moslem countries before emigration deadlines May 31, is nearing peak activity, the U.J.A. executive declared. He pointed cut that the campaign opened with an all-time record of initial individual gifts and cited the fact that the campaign machinery has been set up so early.
In an analysis of the immigration problem, Dr. Schwartz pointed out that the following numbers of Jews are subject to the May 31 immigration deadline: Iraq, 54, 000; Rumania, 16,000; Iran, 4,000; Poland, 2,000; North Africa and Far East, 8,600; Hungary, 1,200; Bulgaria, 1,200 and Youth Aliyah, 4,000.
“These Jews must be saved while there is still time,” Dr. Schwartz declared. “In all, we have less than 100 days to do the job. I am confident that communities throughout the country will respond to this emergency once they are made aware of it. The leaders who have accepted chairmanships for U.J.A. regions and for trades have assured me that they will do everything within their power to bring the full story of this crisis to the attention of every American Jew.”
Premier David Ben Gurion of Israel stressed the urgency of maximum philanthropic aid from America in the light of current immigration pressures and international pressures in discussions this week with Herbert R. Abeles, vice-president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, who is now visiting in Israel, the Council reported today. Mr. Abeles cabled New York that Israel’s leaders were looking to the U.J.A. for help in immigration and resettlement. He said that in response to advance reports on the progress of the U.J.A. campaign, Mr. Ben Gurion had described this as “a sincere expression of the American Jewish community’s concern with the fate of Israel.”
Meanwhile, in various parts of the United States, local U.J.A. campaigns were launched this week-end to provide cash immediately for emergency requirements.
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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.
