Nyana Reports Polish, Czech Jewish Refugees Make Remarkable Adjustments in U.S.

A study of 100 Jewish refugee families from Czechoslovakia and Poland who settled in New York City from July 1, 1968 through December 1969 reveals a remarkable beginning adjustment to their new homeland, it was reported today by the New York Association for New Americans, an immigrant aid agency which is a beneficiary of the United Jewish Appeal. The report was made by Philip Soskis, executive director of the agency, at its annual meeting. The 100 refugee families, surveyed after less than two years in this country, picked at random from the agency’s files, were composed of 292 individuals: 29 percent of the 350 families, composed of 988 individuals, resettled by NYANA from Poland and Czechoslovakia during the same period. Freedom, political and religious, was the overwhelming reason given for emigrating. The 78 families from Poland, particularly, had felt the weight of anti-Semitism increase following the Arab-Israeli war of June 1967. Beginning in 1968, they were permitted to emigrate to Israel and other countries, although they could only take with them some personal possessions and five dollars for each family member. The 22 families from Czechoslovakia escaped during August 1968 as Soviet troops were poised to march in. Some, who were on vacation, did not return; others made a gesture of vacationing in near-by countries to get out. They left everything behind them.

More than 26 percent of the families surveyed were self-supporting in less than two months in the city and 45 percent, in less than four months. Only two percent required any financial assistance from NYANA for more than six months. These families had no financial resources when they arrived in this country and very few spoke any English. One hundred and five adults and young people were sent to full-time intensive English language courses at university level by NYANA immediately after their arrival. These were mainly professionals, technical workers and college students who could not hope to continue their work here without a basic knowledge of English. In addition to 14 scholarships initially provided by the agency, other young people were assisted in obtaining full or partial scholarships from schools or foundations. Many of their parents are now able to pay necessary tuition and other fees.

Not one member of the 100 families interviewed expressed a desire to return to their countries of origin. For all the families, the joy of feeling free as human beings and as Jews was predominant. “We feel like human beings in comparison with the life of permanent fear in a communist country,” said one man. Another commented on the free political and intellectual atmosphere which created “this good country for young people.” Some family members have joined fraternal groups such as the Workmen’s Circle, B’nai Zion and the Jewish Bund. The YMHA’s and YWHA’s have attracted others, Young people are beginning to participate in Jewish and general community activities, many through their schools. Seventy-two percent of the 100 families are already repaying NYANA for funds expended in their behalf at the rate of five to twenty dollars a month. Eleven families had paid off their debt entirely by March 1971. Others will begin to pay as they are able. Mrs. Jerome I. Udell, a founder of NYANA in 1949, was elected president, succeeding Howard M. Harris, who was elected chairman of the executive committee.