100 American Jewish Leaders Go to Israel on U.J.A. Study Mission

One hundred American Jewish communal leaders from all sections of the United States leave for Israel and Europe this week on the fourth annual overseas United Jewish Appeal Study Mission, it was announced today. The mission will assess the needs of Jewish refugees in Europe and observe the manner in which the people of Israel are coping with the heavy recent in flux of homeless immigrants.

“The annual study mission ranks as one of the most significant events in the life saving UJA program,” Morris W, Berinstein UJA president, stated. “It is composed of out standing representatives of the American Jewish community who will have an on the spot opportunity to observe the Jewish refugee picture overseas and to study the needs of the thousands who are each month flocking to the shores of Israel.” The 100 Jewish leaders will depart for Paris in two sections from Idlewild Airport in New York City, October 17 and 18.

In Paris, the study mission will take part in the 12th annual country director’s conference of the Joint Distribution Committee, UJA constituent agency, starting October 20, before proceeding to Israel. In addition to Mr. Berinstein the mission is led by Edward M.M. Warburg, honorary chairman of UJA; Dewey D, Stone, a national chairman of the UJA National Campaign Cabinet Committee for the 1957 mission; Frederick S. Forman vice-chairman, National Campaign Cabinet, and Rabbi Herbert A. Friedman, executive vice-chairman.

Landing in Israel October 24th, members of the mission will conduct a comprehensive study of immigrant absorption and resettlement problems. They will visit many areas of the country on an intensive tour of inspection, and meet with leaders of the government and officials of the Jewish Agency. They will hear addresses by Premier David Ben Gurion; Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the Jewish Agency; Levi Eshkol, Israel Finance Minister, and others.

The mission will later report its findings to the Jewish communities in the United States and participate in mapping UJA’s efforts for the 1958 campaign. This report will be presented at the forthcoming UJA annual national conference in New York, December 14 and 15. A report by the study mission last year was a prime factor this year in the establishment of a special UJA Emergency Rescue Fund which was created to help save, transport and resettle in Israel and other free lands 100, 000 homeless immigrants in flight from danger and conflict in Eastern Europe, Egypt and North Africa.