“Vocational services provided by ORT must be considerably increased, especially in North Africa, as a measure to strengthen Jewish communities there, in view of mounting pressures upon them,” Dr. William Haber, president of the American ORT Federation, declared today upon his return from a meeting of the executive committee of the World ORT Union at Geneva. The meeting also adopted plans to extend the ORT program in Israel and heard reports from the exploratory mission to Turkey concerning fund-raising possibilities and the prospects of establishing ORT schools there.
To implement these plans and to operate its technical schools in 19 countries, the World ORT Union executive committee authorized a budget totaling $3,600,000 for 1955, representing an increase of $500, 000 over the current year, Dr. Haber reported. The committee instructed its officers to explore all channels for meeting the program’s financial requirements.
“The position of North African Jewry is highly vulnerable,” Dr. Haber observed. “Whether an increasing number emigrate to Israel or remain where they are, their economic future hinges largely upon the acquisition of vocational security. For the 30,000 North African Jews who may go to Israel-next year, vocational training will be a precious acquisition for themselves as well as for Israel. For the majority of the 500,000 who remain, it will provide a firm basis for their economic independence.”
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