U. J. A. in New York Raised over $25,000,000 in 1955; Increase Noted

The United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York reported today that it had raised $25,200,000 in 1955 as compared to $25,000,000 in the 1954 campaign. The latest total did not include contributions made during the last three weeks of 1955.

A report on the results of the 1955 drive was presented today by Monroe Goldwater, president of the UJA of Greater New York, to an executive session of the board of directors. He attributed the rise to increased gifts by many contributors and to receipt of a number of bequests to UJA. He pointed out that the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York has raised more than $375,000,000 in 17 years.

The board discussed plans for the 1956 New York UJA drive, scheduled to begin February 1. Dr. Nahum Goldmann, noted Jewish leader and chairman of the Jewish Agency, reported on the needs to be met in 1956 by the Agency, which depends largely on UJA funds to implement, its programs for the rehabilitation and resettlement of its refugee immigrants to Israel.

Dr. Goldman stated that the “most precarious position” in which Israel has been placed because of the intensified arming of Arab states by the Soviet bloc makes it “increasingly more difficult” for Israel’s government to contribute in any large measure toward resettlement of North African refugees. At the same time, he said, unsettled conditions in North Africa, particularly Morocco, make “imperative” increased emigration to Israel of Jews from those countries. He estimated such migration at a minimum of 50,000 for 1956, pointing out that 80,000 had applied for emigration before the Agency was forced to discontinue registration for lack of funds.

At the meeting, Mr. Goldwater was reelected president of the UJA of Greater New York, Inc., the corporate body sponsoring the local UJA campaigns, the largest voluntary philanthropic drives in any community. Sylvan Gotshal was reelected chairman of its board of directors.