The Jewish Agency Board of Governors which ended its meeting here this weekend heard a report from New York building leader Jack Weiler on a recent tour by Israeli builders of construction sites and factories in the U.S. and Britain. The tour was organized by the joint Jewish Agency-Ministry of Housing “Technical Assistance Committee on Housing,” chaired by Weiler.
The 19 Israeli builders in the group represented some 70 percent of the local industry and they returned with a list of 20 specific recommendations which, if implemented in Israel, would greatly accelerate the pace of building. They spent three weeks in America and one week in Britain and met with top construction men in both countries, Weiler reported.
One of their main recommendations is to adopt the American system of subcontractors for the various professional aspects of building. Thus, an Israeli contractor would no longer have to maintain his own crews of plumbers, electricians, and other workers. But would commission other subcontractors. Time and money would, therefore, be saved, the contractors believe. They also recommended more standardization of building materials especially metal and wood-and the adoption of the dry wall system as used in the U.S.
Weiler told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency later he was confident that his committee-now two years old-was beginning to have the desired effect on Israeli building. Top officials, including Finance Minister Pinhas Sapir and Housing Minister Zeev Sharef, had long been convinced of the value of the committee. “The don’t think any longer that we’re out to make them look silly-they know we want to help,” said Weiler.
During the Board of Governors meeting Jewish Agency Chairman Louis Pincus reported that 100,000 Soviet Jews had applied to leave for Israel. The fund-raising committee under Michael Sacher of Britain, heard that prospects of this year’s drive attaining last year’s record figures were good. However, because of the world money markets situation, a gap was developing between pledges and actual cash grants. The committee resolved to make major efforts to collect cash donations.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
