Rabbis now classified as displaced persons in Europe, who because of the war were prevented from the pursuit of their ministry, will be considered for non-quota immigration to the United States, it was disclosed in a State Department ruling received today by Abraham Herman, president of HIAS.
Following a report made by Isaac L. Asofsky, Hias executive director, who recently completed a study of DP conditions in Europe, that many bona-fide rabbis are in camps unable to avail themselves of the non-quota privileges provided for spiritual leaders under Section 4D of the Immigration Act of 1924, a decision was asked by the HIAS legal staff in Washington.
The State Department replied that if facts in each case prove conclusively to the American Consul that the applying rabbi had been in the clergy at least two years and had not abandoned his profession, but merely was prevented from pursuing it, he will be eligible for immigration to the United States as a non-quota immigrant.
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