U.S. Economist Lauds Jewish Agency’s Resettlement Program in Israel

The “high quality” of the Jewish Agency’s work in Israel was lauded here by a noted American economist who just returned from an intensive six-week survey of immigrant rehabilitation in the Jewish state. He said the absorption and farm development program of the Jewish Agency is “effectively administered” and termed it “a job well done.”

These observations were made by Dr. Isador Lubin, Professor of Public Affairs at Rutgers University who has a distinguished record of service in Government and international affairs. Prof. Lubin, who is a consultant in Israel for the Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc. presented his views in the course of a special report submitted to the two-day session of the board of directors of the newly reorganized Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc. –the major beneficiary of the United Jewish Appeal–held here.

“I was tremendously impressed by the manner in which immigrants were processed at the port of entry, transported to areas of settlement and deposited in apartments, agricultural villages, or other places of residence,” Dr. Lubin said. “Similarly, the work being done in the agricultural settlements is on a very high level. This is true both of the technical work of agricultural planning, the agricultural extension services, the social institutions that are being developed in these settlements, and the entire process of consolidating these farming communities.” He characterized the agricultural program as “a job being well done by field people who know their business.”

Dr. Lubin added, however, that there are as yet “substantial areas of unmet needs” which must be dealt with as soon as possible. He questioned whether it would be feasible “to implement the current budget with the funds that will probably be available unless the present level of achievement by the UJA is substantially increased.” Indicating that certain retrenchments of activities in Israel would be necessary without increased UJA funds, Dr. Lubin stressed the need for long-range planning.

FINDS BUDGETARY PROCEDURES OF JEWISH AGENCY EXTREMELY GOOD

In the course of his report, Dr. Lubin noted that the budgetary procedures of the Jewish Agency conform with the best practices in the U.S. Federal and State Government and, in his view, were even superior to the practices of some smaller nations. He stated that the implementation of these budgets is contingent upon “the regular periodic transfer of sufficient funds” for those programs which will be approved for support by the Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc., the sole body to deter nine allocations of UJA funds for the Jewish Agency’s work in Israel.

Dr. Lubin indicated that the budgeting process was made more difficult by the present arrival of new immigrants who cannot be screened in their countries of origin. He praised the understanding and dedication of the Jewish Agency’s field staff engaged in screening the immigrants upon arrival and charged with planning absorption programs adjusted to their backgrounds and individual capacities.

Summarizing his recommendations, Dr. Lubin said: “The philanthropic needs of the people of Israel cannot be over-stated. Even after making allowances for the large amounts that come in from abroad, there are yet too many people requiring assistance. The problem is to establish priorities in the use of such income from the U.S. and other countries. This would involve planning the activities of the Jewish Agency for the next decade, keeping in mind the proper timing of certain types of programs. This board must study carefully the responsibilities which it has undertaken to fulfill so that it may be sure of carrying all of them to successful completion.”