American Jewry must prepare itself for great and inescapable responsibilities facing it in relation to the rescue of Jews from tension-ridden countries in the coming year, the United Jewish Appeal’s study mission of 35 American Jewish leaders declared today in a statement just prior to leaving Israel.
The mission firmly believes, the statement went on to say, that a renewed effort by American Jewry can not only sustain the remarkable progress made in Israel in the past year, but can also make possible significant new advances in the renewal and reconstruction of Israel’s rich human resources.
The special UJA mission, which will make its full report to UJA’s National Conference in New York on December 10-12, outlined three major tasks which will require the urgent support of American Jewry. They are:
1. The absorption of tens of thousands of men, women and children who must be brought from North Africa; 2. The intensification of agricultural settlement and industrial expansion, without which there cannot exist the economic basis necessary for the absorption and integration of past and present immigration; 3. The strengthening of programs of care, education and vocational training being carried out on behalf of Israel’s immigrant children.
The mission declared that it was deeply impressed by gains made in the absorption of immigrants, in agricultural and industrial development, and in the care of children and the aged. While it was clearly aware of the problems which remain, it was nevertheless deeply gratified that the $65,000, 000 made available here through the UJA “consolidation loan” had helped materially to improve Israel’s financial position, the mission said.
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