U.S. Jews Expected to Raise Major Portion of $236,496,000 Required by U.p.a. Agencies

A total of $236,496,000, the major portion of it to be raised by Jews in this country, is required by United Palestine Appeal agencies in Israel for a comprehensive program of repatriating and rehabilitating the great number of immigrants entering the Jewish state during the current fiscal year ending October, 1949, Herman L. Weisman, acting national chairman of the U.P.A., announced last night.

Declaring that Israel, in effect, “is confronting American Jewry with its greatest challenge” because of the unprecedented influx of immigrants, Weismann disclosed that the greatest single item on the budget is the sum of $99,150,000 covering the total cost of immigration, initial care and housing of refugees. He said the budgetary estimates were calculated on the basis of 120,000 newcomers entering Israel this fiscal year, which is considered a nimimal figure.

Of the total immigration expenditures, at least $10,500,000 is earmarked for rescue, relief and training of refugees in Europe and the Middle Eastern countries. In accordance with agreements to be worked out under the 1949 United Jewish Appeal, Weisman said the Joint Distribution Committee would probably continue to assume transportation costs as part of its program.

Initial care of newcomers, including temporary maintenance, special assistance and rehabilitation involves an expenditure of $30,000,000. Construction of housing for immigrants called for an allocation by U.P.A. agencies in Israel of $48,000,000 toward the total cost of upwards of $70,000,000. Included within the over-all immigration aspect of the U.P.A.’s program is a special youth immigration project for which U.P.A. agencies are to expend $10,200,000.

The provisional budget of the Jewish National Fund, which covers the land acquisition aspect of the U.P.A. program to make possible the repatriation of the homeless immigrants, includes for the current fiscal year the purchase of some 300,000 acres, participation in a colonization program and extensive land improvement. Cost of this program totals $77,280,000.

War-ravaged Jerusalem, Weisman said in the budgetary report, requires extensive repair for the settlement of newcomers, as well as special housing projects and development of agriculture in the city’s hinterland which necessitates an expenditure by U.P.A. agencies of $15,000,000. At the same time, Weisman disclosed that $33,150,000 is allocated for: promotion of trade and industry in Jerusalem; repairs of war damages throughout Israel, exclusive of Jerusalem; grants for educational and cultural purposes; previous allocations which could not be met out of last year’s budget.