Organization of an Institute on Overseas Studies by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds was announced today by H.L. Lurie, executive director. The Institute will provide American Jewish communities and voluntary agencies with data essential for their guidance in determining long range financial and functional responsibilities.
Dr. Isadore Lubin, former U.S. Commissioner of Labor Statistics, has accepted the chairmanship of a Technical Advisory Committee which has been organized to assist and guide the Institute’s program. Dr. Mordecai Ezekiel will act as special consultant. A full-time director for the project is still to be selected. The major aspects of the Institute’s research program were announced by Mr. Lurie as follows:
1. Jewish needs will be analyzed and appraised in relation to the general economic and political setting of the various countries in which Jews live.
2. The role of American Jewish voluntary programs will be studied in relation to governmental and inter-governmental programs, local resources, non-sectarian voluntary agencies, Jewish voluntary agencies in other countries, and the re-establishment and stabiluty of Jewish communities in the European countries where American programs are now operating.
3. The Institute will study both the existing work of the Jewish voluntary agencies and their plans for future programs of rehabilitation and reconstruction.
4. The Institute will not duplicate research work already being done by operating agencies. In addition to its own direct studies, it will obtain basic data through the staff resources of those agencies as stimulated and directed by the Institute. The Institute will emphasize the coordination of such data, its analysis and presentation so that the material can be used as the basis for arriving at judgment concerning agency programs and activities.
5. On-the-spot studies will be undertaken in Europe and Palestine as required, in order to obtain information not available in this country and as conditions make such surveys possible.
6. The Institute will conduct a continuing program rather than a one-time survey. It will make periodic appraisals of the material gathered and it will issue periodic reports. These will be available for use by local community leaders and by the operating overseas Jewish agencies.
The Institute will examine the overall situation of Jewish needs, particularly an appraisal of current situations and prospects of Jewish populations for adjustment and for immigration.
PLANS FOR STUDIES IN EUROPE, PALESTINE, LATIN AMERICA OUTLINED
In Europe it will analyze basic political and economic factors affecting Jewish needs on a country to country basis. This will include analysis of activities and expenditures for relief, medical aid, emigration, vocational training and rehabilitation, welfare institutions, cultural and religious reconstruction.
In Palestine the factors to be studied include political and economic developments affecting immediate and long range Jewish needs and programs, analysis of activities and expenditures for land purchase, reception and care of immigrants, health and welfare programs, housing, agricultural and industrial development, cultural and religious programs, analysis of requirements of new immigrants, and progress achieved in making them self-supporting; relationship of American aid to local resources and assistance received from other countries.
Studies will also be made of settlement possibilities in Latin America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and other areas. These will include an analysis of the readiness of those areas to absorb refugses in general and Jewish refugees in particular; of efforts to facilitate such movements, and of steps that might be taken to enlarge immigration opportunities.
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