Ort Maps War on Pockets of Jewish Poverty Overseas As Prime Goal

Expansion of the war on pockets of Jewish poverty overseas was declared to be the prime objective of the ORT vocational training programs, which get under way this month, by Dr. William Haber, president of the American ORT Federation, who reported today on the more than 600 training units in 21 countries. The ORT facilities will provide increased educational opportunity to deprived youth, upgrading in skills to adults and aid to refugees in their economic resettlement, Dr. Haber stated.

Noting the enlarged facilities and expanded programs of ORT, Dr. Haber estimated that more than 40,000 persons will enroll in ORT in the new school year, the 86th since the organization’s establishment.

The greatest expansion, he reported, is taking place in Israel, where the first phase is under way of a five-year program which aims at doubling last year’s 7,000 student capacity of the ORT vocational high schools. Two new schools have been opened, at Ramat Gan and Kiryat Bialik, and 30 new classes have been started in 12 schools, opening the way for the enrollment of 1,000 additional students. In Tel Aviv, the Joseph S. Shapiro Apprenticeship Center, named for the late chairman of Israel ORT, was opened on September, 1 and it will eventually serve 2,500 working youth. A John F. Kennedy Center is under construction in Jerusalem.

More than 7,500 trainees will receive trade instruction in the apprentice phase of ORT activities in Israel during the current school year. The new facilities will be directed specifically toward the needs of immigrant youth of African and Asian origin as part of the effort to overcome the backwardness and lack of productive skills among this segment of the Israel population.