Dulzing: Jewish Agency is Preparing for ‘a Sudden Jump in Immigration’

Leon Dulzin, chairman of the Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organization Executives, asserted here that “while I am not free to discuss it publicly, I can tell you that the Jewish Agency is preparing for a sudden jump in immigration, far beyond the figures we projected for this and the coming year. One of the ancient tribes of Israel is due to return to its homeland.”

In a broad-ranging free-wheeling address last Wednesday at a meeting of the WZO-American Section, Dulzin declared that when the true story of the Jews of Ethiopia is told, “We will take pride in what we have already achieved in this most difficult and complex rescue operation. At the same time, a huge task still confronts us.” He also spoke of the undaunted courage and steadfastness of Soviet Jewry which is suffering cruel discrimination and hardship. He said the “Soviet Jews are the great Jewish heroes of the day.”

OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SOLUTION OF ISRAEL’S PROBLEMS

Dulzin expressed optimism about the solution of Israel’s problems by the new unity government, increased aliya because of the growing acceptance of local community commitment and responsibility, and strengthened Jewish education.

He emphasized that, without a government of national unity, Israel could not take the steps needed to solve its inflationary crisis. He said “the people of Israel are beginning to experience what will be a severe lowering of their living standards.”

Dulzin also pointed out that the United States and Canadian Jewish communities were beginning to comprehend Premier Shimon Peres’ vision of Israel’s economic future “as a technological headquarters of the Middle East.”

Regarding the Jewish Agency, Dulzin said that “as a consequence of drastic cuts in the government budgets,” it is “under tremendous pressure to assume responsibility once more for activities it had turned over to the government because of its own financial stringency.”

CHALLENGES FACING CJF AND UJA

He said these developments are the challenges which will concern the Council of Jewish Federations and the United Jewish Appeal’s current campaign. Dulzin paid tribute to the CJF and the UJA, and said: “We Jews have built the most effective networks of help in the history of man — the community federations.”

He emphasized that “the renewed strength and vigor of your North American Jewish communities derives today from the fact of the State of Israel. You are made stronger as Jews by the constant input of Israel into the stream of Jewish consciousness.”

Dulzin also pointed out that “diaspora Jewry’s landmark decision to accept aliya as part of our common agenda was a milestone in Jewish history. We salute the communities that have undertaken, with the cooperation of the CJF, pilot programs to test various approaches to organized community involvement in aliya.”

Concerning the threat of assimilation, he said he felt “a new hope and optimism about Jewish education. The Jewish Agency Board of Governors has approved the implementation of a program to further Jewish education by the intimate collaboration of the American and Canadian Jewish communities and Israel.” Dulzin said the Agency “has enlisted a new cadre of distinguished community leaders under the chairmanship of Morton Mandel,” a past president of the CJF.