Jewish Agency Reports on Cultural Exchange Between Israel, U.S.

A vigorous cultural exchange between Israel and the United States and a widespread revival of Hebrew studies in this country are indicated in a report made public here today by the Jewish Agency are the eve the opening of the Zionist Actions Committee session in Jerusalem.

The report disclosed that discussions have been under way for nearly a year to increase the areas of joint effort by the various Zionist bodies in America though a reorganized American Zionist Council. The talks have been between Ieaders off the various Zionist groups and leaders of the Jewish Agency who indicated this effort. They will be continued in Jerusalem now with Premier David Ben Gurion Jewish Agency leaders and spokesmen for U.S. Zionist groups. The American Zionist Council presently speaks for the American Zionist movement in the public relations field only.

Quoting from a survey by the Hebrew Culture Service Committee, an independent body composed of prominent American Jews and non-Jews with which the Jewish Agency cooperates, the report shows that Hebrew is now taught in 200 universities and 55 high schools throughout the United States. Some 1, 000 American colleges and universities now recognize Hebrew for admission purposes.

In the past six months, the Jewish Agency’s Department of Education and Culture, headed by Dr. Hayim Greenberg, member of the Jewish Agency executive, has conducted twelve seminars for Hebrew educators and student teachers in the United States, Israel, England, Holland and France.

Last August, in cooperation with the Association of Hebrew Teachers Colleges in America, the Jewish Agency inaugurated a project whereby outstanding under-graduate students spend six months studying in Israel which counts as credit toward their degrees. Earlier in the year, leading figures from Israel and eminent Americans of all faiths participated in the Seminary-Israel Institute, arranged by the Agency in cooperation with the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

In cooperation with the Israel Ministry of Education, the Agency granted one-year scholarships in Israel for twelve Hebrew teachers from Jewish communities in Latin America. It has also secured qualified Israeli teachers to fill want posts in the U.S. as well as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Finland and the Philippine Republic.