Israel views the efforts of the United Jewish Appeal in 1972 “as the top rated priority of Jewish effort in this or any other country on behalf of the great miracle of aliya of Soviet Jews and others.” This view was stated here Thursday night by David Rivlin, Israel’s Consul General in New York.
Addressing 117 representatives of 49 grassroots national, regional and city organizations at a meeting at the Consulate General of Israel convened jointly by the Consulate and the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York, Rivlin emphasized the tremendous cost of transportation and absorption–$35,000 for the first year for a family of four. He said, “We hope for 35-40,000 olim from the Soviet Union alone. Our (financial) needs are staggering.”
But, he emphasized, “if we Jewish people of the free countries, of Israel, cannot absorb these people; if they become disenchanted, disillusioned, bitter and frustrated–and even only a small portion return–it will mean the greatest defeat of everything we prayed for, demonstrated for, worked for and fought for.” It will be a betrayal of those Jews still in the Soviet Union who demonstrate and demand the right to emigrate to Israel at great danger to themselves, he said. It will be a letdown for Israel, for “everyone who deserves the name of Jew, of Jewish.”
Herbert Tenser, president of the UJA of Greater New York, declared that Israel is committed to “take in every Jew” who wishes to come, and “30,000 Jews (the minimum hoped for in 1972) at $7,500 per head, that comes to $225 million.” Tenzer reported that in 1971 his organization raised $73 million. In August, it set a 1972 goal of $105 million; but because of Israel’s increasing need, the goal was increased to $150 million.
“This means that we have to double our gifts,” he said, adding, “of the $73 million we raised last year, 73 percent was donated by 3,500 people.” Only 150,000 of the 800,000 Jewish families in the metropolitan area gave to UJA, he observed. “We can’t ask everyone to double the amount of their donations,” he said. “We have got to double the number of our donors.”
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