Zionist Congress Urges American Jewish Youth to Join in Immigration to Israel

An appeal to the Jewish communities of the United States “to join in a large immigration movement” to Israel was made today by the 23rd World Zionist Congress in a resolution adopted at its plenary session. The resolution, presented by the Congress Immigration Commission and adopted unanimously, reads:

“The 23rd World Zionist Congress turns to the Jewish communities from whose midst the Aliyah is yet small–and especially to those in the United States–and calls upon them, but particularly upon their youth, to join in a large Aliyah movement.”

Another resolution adopted by the Congress session expresses “appreciation to all nations that have enabled Jewish immigration without hindrence.” It also calls upon the other nations of the world to follow this example and permit those Jews who desire to leave for Israel to depart. In addition, the resolution urges the Jewish Agency to organize the immigration of professionals and technicians.

JEWISH AGENCY ASKED TO RAISE PERCENTAGE OF YOUTH IMMIGRATION

A series of resolutions on Youth Aliyah was unanimously adopted by the Congress. These request the Jewish Agency executive to raise the percentage of youth immigration into Israel from the Mediterranean countries, Eastern Europe the Arab lands and North Africa.

The resolutions also call upon Jewish organizations, committees and individuals overseas and in Israel to make a supreme effort to raise at least half of the general forget of the Youth Department and direct an appeal to women’s organizations to allocate at least 30 percent of their general income to the needs of the department for child and youth immigration.

A resolution adopted by the Congress expresses appreciation to the Joint Distribution Committee in connection with the transfer of Jewish children to Israel and their prior maintenance at various overseas centers. The resolution voices the hope that this aid will be increased in view of the North African and Mediterranean immigration.

In other resolutions, the Congress called on the Zionist executive and organizations to provide means for the establishment of Zionist youth centers in Jewish communities throughout the world and urged enlargement of the movement to send educational seminaries from Israel to overseas countries. Resolutions also called for increasing facilities in Israel for the training of youth leaders from abroad. Another resolution urged the Jewish Agency to set up an “organizational framework” in many countries abroad for an immigration movement of professional people which should be in constant contact with the chalutz movement.

As a probable result of American criticisms, the Congress voted that all institutions concerned in Israel, both of the Government and of the Zionist movement, should take the necessary steps to ensure the absorption, integration and housing of immigrating professional men. It said the Youth and Hechalutz Department should deal with the organization devoted to the recruitment of professional men and technical workers.

A labor Zionist move for the amalgamation of Hechalutz training farms was defeated in the Congress by a vote of 145-122. The resolution adopted expressed recognition of the need to improve the professional and cultural standard of pioneer training.