Presidents Conference Discusses Problem of Soviet Jewish Dropouts

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations held a broad discussion here today on various approaches to deal with the problem of “noshrim” (dropouts)–Jews who leave the Soviet Union with Israeli visas but opt to go to different countries once they reach Vienna.

In a statement after the meeting, Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler, chairman of the Presidents Conference, said he was “deeply gratified” that all of the participants–despite different views on how to resolve the issue–were determined to reach a unified position that would avoid polarization in the American Jewish community, between American Jewry, world Jewry and Israel.

Speakers at the meeting included Mrs. Charlotte Jacobson, chairman. World Zionist Organization-American Section; Carl Glick, president, HIAS; Morris Brafman, president, American League for the Repatriation of Russian Jews; Eugene Gold, chairman. National Conference on Soviet Jewry; Rabbi David Hill, president, Young Israel; and Rabbi Walter Wurzburger, president, Rabbinical Council of America.

The discussion took place against the backdrop of moves now going on in Israel and among Jewish aid organizations in this country to deal with the dropout problem. Some feel that this trend will harm further emigration efforts by Soviet Jews while others feel that Soviet Jews have the right to determine where they wish to settle. A committee of Israelis and representatives of U.S. Jewish charitable organizations was set up in Jerusalem last July during the Jewish Agency general assembly to examine the issue. Max Fisher, chairman of the committee, said last month the study was still under way and that a statement dealing with the study would not be ready for some time. The current dropout rate is estimated to be some 50-60 percent.