Ort Work Aids U.S. Ideas on World Scene, Mrs. Rooseveit Tells Women’s Convention

The ORT program in North Africa, Israel and Europe helps the United States carry out its idea of elevating the standard of living of people throughout the world through developing the productive capacity of people in the backward areas of the world, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt last night told 2,500 men and women attending a public meeting of the 11th biennial convention of the Women’s American ORT. Mrs. Roosevelt added that the U.S. and the United Nations “must do on an international scale the type of work which ORT has been doing.”

In a telegraphed message to the convention, which is being attended by 600 delegates, President Truman said: “You are making a real contribution toward the aim of this country–to help peoples throughout the world attain a way of life we want for ourselves.” A message from Abba Eban, Israel Ambassador to Washington and bead of the Jewish state’s delegation to the U.N., said that “by training Israel’s newcomers to take their place in the industrial and agricultural economy, ORT is proving that immigrants need not remain in the public charge.”

Dr. Abram L. Sachar, president of Brandeis University, who also spoke last night, stressed the significance of the ORT’s work in Europe, North Africa and Israel where it is giving Jews “a sense of dignity, usefulness and purposeful existence.” U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Benjamin Cohen and Dr. William Haber, president of the American ORT Federation, who keynoted the opening session of the conference, also lauded the work of the organization.