ISRAEL MAY SOON FACE MOST CRITICAL TEST, DR. GOLDMANN SAYS
Dr. Nahum Goldmann, in the major address of the final session, warned against any settlement of the Middle East problem at Israel’s expense. He said “Israel may soon face its most critical and decisive test as a result of the mounting ferment in the Middle East. The danger may not be military at all, it may be political. Attempts may soon be initiated to stabilize the Middle East at the expense of Israel’s territorial integrity.”
Emphasizing that such attempts would be “perilous to Israel’s existence and would not stabilize the Middle East,” Dr. Goldmann stressed that “the weakening of Israel, at exemplar of democratic living to all Africa and Asia, would weaken the democratic cause among the underdeveloped countries and could be a fatal blow to the moral stature of the free world” “It is high time,” Dr. Goldmann declared, “that we learned the repetitive lesson that peace of mind and peace of area cannot be obtained at the expense of others
Dov Joseph Jewish Agency treasurer, addressing the delegates, warned that the severe shortage of philanthropic funds had slowed down Israel’s absorption program “to the danger point.” He emphasized that the problem of housing continues to be Israel’s greatest financial headache,” with the inflow of newcomers outpacing the housing constructive program.
Charles H. Jordan. director-general of overseas operations of the Joint Distribution Committee; predicted that the beginning of 1958 will see “growing numbers of Jews on the move, forced to flee from tyranny and anti-Semitism and hunger, and hoping to find a haven in hospitable lands.” He reported in detail on the JDC program of aid to 10,000 Jews repatriated to Poland from Russia.
Presentation of a specially inscribed Bible was made to Joseph Meyerhoff of Baltimore, who is ending his 1957 term as chairman of the UJA National Campaign Cabinet to assume the duties of a national chairman for the 1958 campaign. Other leaders elected to new posts included William Rosenwald as UJA national chairman representing the joint Distribution Committee; Dr. Jonah B. Wise as honorary national chairman; Samuel Rubin as honorary chairman of the 1958 UJA Rescue fund, and Fred Forman as chairman of UJA National Campaign Cabinet for 1958.
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.
