The role played by American Jews in helping to bring a full million immigrants to Israel since the formation of the Jewish State, was hailed by the executive committee of the United Jewish Appeal as a “monumental humanitarian achievement” in a statement issued today.
The arrival of the millionth immigrant in Israel, announced last week by the Jewish Agency for Israel, was characterized by Joseph Meyerhoff, UJA General Chairman, as “a source of intense pride for the Jews of America, whose contributions to the United Jewish Appeal through the years have made this historic milestone in human rescue and rehabilitation possible.
Putting the number of past immigrants still requiring resettlement help at 320,000 Mr. Meyerhoff told the UJA executive committee that the unexpectedly high 1961 immigration rate was compounding the seriousness of the absorption problem. “We have received disturbing indications,” he stated, “that setbacks were entirely possible in the Jewish Agency’s programs for completing the solution of the immigrant housing problem, for providing 130,000 farm settlers with the means for full economic independence, for opening up new areas of settlement and for keeping up with all other rehabilitation needs.” He urged the Jews of America not to allow themselves “the luxury of letting up” in their aid to Israel.
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