Oscar Gruss, 70 year-old head of a New York securities firm, has made a donation of $1, 000, 000 to the Israel Education Fund of the United Jewish Appeal for the establishment of five religious vocational high schools in Israel, it was announced here today by the Fund’s chairman Joseph Meyerhoff and president Charles J. Bensley.
This brings the total raised by the Fund for high school construction in its first year and a half of existence to nearly $11, 000, 000, the two leaders said. More than another $1, 000, 000 has been raised by the Fund for teacher-training scholarships and the establishment of youth centers and libraries.
Part of the new gift will be used to complete vocational schools previously established by Mr. Gruss in Nechalim and Shafir, settlements in central Israel. New schools will be built in the Lachish Development Area capital of Kiryat Gat, in the port city of Haifa and in the Sharon Valley. Enrollment will be open to all graduates of Israel’s state religious elementary schools, who will continue talmudic and related studies while learning a modern trade.
The five Gruss schools will advance the timetable of an overall national plan to double vocational training opportunities in Israel by 1970. The plan will particularly benefit disadvantaged immigrant youths, primarily those of North African and Asian origin. A pledge of $750, 000 toward purchase of machinery and equipment for the five schools has been made by Mr. E. Epstein, president of ORT in Israel, Mr. Gruss revealed.
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