The sum of $33,150, 000 in cash was reached here today for the United Jewish Appeal at the conclusion of a two-day national UJA mid-year leadership conference attended by 450 Jewish community leaders from all parts of the country who presented checks on behalf of their communities.
Rabbi Herbert A, Friedman, executive vice-chairman of the UJA,told the conference that “if the campaign continues at the present pace, there is every reason to believe that by the year’s end the 1960 drive will approximate the $68, 000, 000 raised by the UJA in its successful campaign of 1959. He commended “the maturity and deep sense of responsibility” displayed by American Jews in response to the 1960 campaign.
“There were no flaming headlines or day-to-day newspaper reports of Jewish disasters to spur the pace of this year’s effort, ” he said. “Yet, American Jews have shown that they understand very well the great issues which still underlie the UJA, and that they are a generation which has an appointment with history to try to solve these issues.”
Moses A. Leavitt, executive vice-chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, underscored the long range aspects of the UJA is support. He told delegates that in 1960, the JDC–a UJA beneficiary–is aiding 250, 000 Jews in Moslem countries, Europe and Israel. He noted that most of those helped by JDC no longer could be technically classed “refugees” but the needs of these people were termed “as great as in the days of homeless wandering, or greater.”
Melvin Dubinsky, UJA national cash chairman and head of the UJA national campaign cabinet, called on community leaders to continue efforts to secure cash. He praised and thanked a 50 man cash committee associated with him in the current drive.
President Abram Sachar of Brandeis University today told the delegates that Israelis long for the day of self sufficiency. American Jews “have no right to become tired” of fund-raising appeals until Israel achieves economic independence, he stated.
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