The United Jewish Appeal appears to have won support for its “Passage to Freedom” campaign from sectors of the Zionist establishment that had previously criticized the $75 million special fund-raising effort for Soviet Jewry.
Last week, the Jewish Agency Executive issued a statement after its meeting in Washington, affirming “its unqualified support” for the special UJA campaign, “in the spirit of the unity of the Jewish people.”
The statement was signed by Simcha Dinitz, chairman of the World Zionist Organization-Jewish Agency Executive, and Mendel Kaplan, chairman of the Jewish Agency Board of Governors.
Less than a week earlier, Dinitz had issued a blistering criticism of the campaign, because UJA had decided that, in effect, the Jewish Agency would get only 25 percent of the proceeds to help resettle Soviet Jews in Israel.
His complaint, echoed by leaders in the American Zionist movement, was that the vast majority of the funds would go to resettling Soviet Jews in the Diaspora, instead of in Israel, which Diaspora leaders have always recognized as the homeland of the Jewish people.
The Zionists now appear to be mollified by a UJA commitment that the Jewish Agency will receive the “major portion” of $37.5 million in campaign proceeds earmarked for overseas needs.
ENDORSEMENT FROM UJA
On Monday, the board of trustees of the United Israel Appeal, which funnels UJA funds to the Jewish Agency, met here and adopted a resolution endorsing the Passage to Freedom campaign.
“As leaders in our communities, we recognize our critical role and that of all American Jewry to participate in this campaign and to support all efforts to resettle Soviet Jews during this unique opportunity for freedom,” the resolution stated.
UJA is gratified that the Zionist establishment is now backing the special campaign. UJA National Chairman Morton Kornreich and President Stanley Horowitz issued a statement Monday saying they were pleased with the Jewish Agency’s “unqualified support” for the Passage to Freedom drive.
“It now appears that there is a determination to move ahead in unity and with singleness of purpose to provide care and maintenance for the resettlement of Soviet Jews. At the same time, there is the continuing hope that large numbers will choose to go to Israel,” the statement said.
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