A two-year program, involving expenditure of $100,000, has been mapped out by the ORT here, aimed at adjusting Hungarian Jews to the restricted opportunities for employment under the anti-Jewish law and preparing them to fit into positions as skilled workers if the opportunity for emigration arises.
The budget calls for expenditure of $40,000 during the first year and $60,000 the second year. The funds would be spent chiefly for tools and machinery. It is expected to raise half of the $100,000 in America. The initial installment of $15,000 for ORT work in Hungary has already been sent by the central ORT office and has reached the local committee.
Local Jewish leaders are highly satisfied with ORT work in Hungary, which is particularly appreciated now that the restrictions on Jews in commerce, the professions and other fields of employment are being felt more sharply every day.
The ORT has trained 600 persons in leather-work, weaving, basketry and ceramics during the past school year in three-week courses given at its Budapest headquarters and is instructing 120 boys and girls in a three-year course given at the Jewish Community school, it was found by a J.T.A. correspondent in a survey.
A Gentile woman teacher recommended by the Government is nominally in charge of the course at the ORT headquarters because the anti-Jewish law forbids Jews to operate an enterprise of this sort. In addition, the ORT has organized 25 three-week courses in the Carpatho-Ukraine and women’s embroidery courses in eight Hungarian towns.
The ORT manages to dispose of goods made by former students at home under various arrangements, despite the fact that the anti-Jewish law makes it difficult to sell Jewish-made items. Until the war is over, however, marketing of many ORT-manufactured items will be impossible because the Hungarian market is limited and the Government prohibits certain types of manufactures by Jews unless exportable. It is hoped to increase exports to the United States as soon as freight service is reestablished.
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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.
