The United Jewish Appeal announced a “crash campaign” today to raise $40 million in cash during the last two months of 1968 in order to meet Israel’s critical social welfare needs. According to Albert B. Adelman, national chairman of the UJA’s cash collection campaign, the drive will seek to redeem pledges made earlier through community campaigns throughout the country on behalf of the Israel Emergency Fund. He said the drive would also redeem pledges to the regular UJA campaign which provides funds for the assistance of 300,000 Jews in 30 countries in addition to the program for Israel.
In a message addressed to American Jewish community leaders, Mr. Adelman said “We must set a goal and attain it, since otherwise UJA cannot possibly meet its commitments.” Noting that there were no signs of a peace settlement in the Middle East, he said “Israel’s immediate concern is the protection of her territory and the lives of her people. To this end she must strain her resources to the utmost and devote all means at her command.” The same note of urgency was sounded by Edward Ginsberg, general chairman of the UJA, in a message from a UJA study mission in Israel. “With her resources strained to the utmost for defense, the people of Israel cannot at the same time cope with the tremendous social welfare needs. Close to a half million immigrants are still unabsorbed and with 4,000 new arrivals in September, the UJA must fulfill its commitments and sustain vast humanitarian programs,” he said.
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