“Mischievous propaganda” which is being spread by pro-Arab elements to the effect that “the American Government has especially favored the State of Israel and has poured fabulous sums of money into that country,” were assailed here tonight by Dr. Abba Hillel Silver. He spoke at a dinner marking the formal opening of the 15th annual campaign of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York.
Dr. Silver pointed out that Israel has received from the United States Government only $276,000,000 in aid and contrasted that with the total of more than $30,000,000,000 given to all countries receiving such aid in the first five post-war years and the $7,000,000,000 spent on foreign aid last year alone. Recalling that some of the nations receiving U.S. Government help are the “oldest and most powerful in Europe,” Dr. Silver declared;
“The new State of Israel, recovering from the ravages of invasion and war, harassed by the continuing Arab boycott and blockade, confronted with the necessity of absorbing 700,000 impoverished refugees and of defending its frontiers at the very time that it was setting up the machinery of government and laying the bases for its agricultural and industrial development, has received since its founding aid in the amount of $276, 000,000, half of which was in the form of a loan from the Export-Import Bank, which is being repaid at three and a half percent interest.”
Dr. Silver emphasized that “Israel is profoundly grateful for the aid which it has received from this country, which was the first to grant it recognition and which did so much to bring it into existence,” By so doing, he pointed out, the United States has assured for itself and mankind “a faithful and dependable ally for freedom and democracy in a most critical and strategic area of the world. ” The recent violent outburst and denunciation both of Israel and of Zionism on the part of the Soviet bloc are clear proof of this fact, he stressed.
“Whatever aid the United States will deem it wise and just to extend to Israel in the future as part of its foreign aid program will of course be deeply appreciated by the hard-pressed young State of Israel,” he continued. “A strong Israel will be a deterrent to any attempt at aggression on the part of any unreconciled neighbor and will insure peace in a part of the world where an outbreak of war may be difficult to localize.”
Dr. Silver also called for continued support by American Jews of efforts to strengthen Israel economically. He particularly asked increased contributions to the United Jewish Appeal to speed the absorption of 240,000 recently arrived immigrants who “still dwell in the economic wasteland of temporary villages under “primitive conditions.”
ROSENWALD ASKS MOSCOW TO RELEASE JEWS AS PEACE GESTURE
William Rosenwald, a national chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, voiced a plea to the Soviet Union’s new Premier Georgi Malenkov and to those who rule the Communist world with him to allow the Jews of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, “who now live in dread of renewed persecution,” to emigrate to Israel. Speaking after receiving an award for distinguished service to the causes represented in the U.J.A. of New York, Mr. Rosenwald said:
“It is not too late for the masters of the Kremlin to change the anti-Jewish and anti-Israel policies which are indicated by their recent actions and pronouncements. Today, the leadership of the Soviet Union is in new hands. Malenkov and those who rule with him have it in their power to reverse the ominous trend of Soviet anti-Semitism. They have it in their power to let the Jews emigrate.”
Mr. Rosenwald expressed a belief that such a move would have an ameliorative effect on the cold war. “The Communist rulers, ” he stated, “can show the world that the Kremlin has not lost all humanity. They can remove the issue of anti-Semitism from the struggle between East and West and thus help to relieve the tensions which shake our world. Such an action would give to millions of people all over the world a renewed hope for peace.”
The dinner launched the active fund-raising phase of the New York UJA, which has already passed the $7,500,000 mark. It was tendered as a testimonial to the general chairman of the New York UJA campaign who are; Samuel Hausman, Benjamin Lazrus, Abraham Levitt, Jerome 1. Udell and Jack D. Weiler. They were presented with atlases and illuminated globes, symbolizing the worldwide scope of the work of the agencies benefiting from the campaign.
In addition to Dr. Silver and Mr. Rosenwald, speakers included Louis Broido, president of the New York UJA, who presided over the dinner; Edward M. W. Warburg, general chairman of the nationwide UJA drive; and Samuel D. Leidesdorf, treasurer of the New York UJA.
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.
