1
Land and
y
Shapes
Its
Economic
Polic
Jewish State
Housinw

111101

iettl

(Copyright, 1949, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)

ing drafted. The artisans' federation itself
is now planning to set up a central pur-
chasing agency.

tic to pay the British administration as w.
little taxes as possible and to use Pr-
money instead for internal Jewish
poses, such as defense appeals.

TEL AVIV—Jewish capitalists from va-
rious countries now visiting Israel by in-
vitation of the Jewish Agency are con-
templating the following investments:
Erection of plants for the assembling of
motorcars, for gas, for radio sets, for
plastic goods; also various co-operative
enterprises and housing projects. Trans-
fer of capital for the acquisition of immo-
bile property is also contemplated, partly
in the form of kosher meat imports, and
sonic Belgian Jews would like to transfer
to Israel additional diamond-cutting
equipment.
Of a great variety of offers of foreign
Jewish capital investments, 70 projects for
new industrial undertakings seem sound,
the Ministry for. Trade and Industry de-
clared recently. These projects - involve
an initial capital outlay of four million
pounds and will employ 10,000 workers.
A Kishon valley authority for the indus-
trial development of 50,000 dunams in the
hinterland of Haifa harbor is to begin to
function shortly. The new industries to
be located there will involve capital in-
vestments of fifteen million pounds.
*
*
MEANWHILE, A GROUP of local cap-
italists, in conjunction with Histadrut cap-
ital, is making preparations for the found-
ing of a sugar refining industry. The nec-
essary machinery is to be transferred from
Czechoslovakia.
The Israeli Government has promised
to protect small workshops Tn the alloca-
tions of raw materials, import licenses,
investment capital, etc. New legislation
for the protection of legitimate artisans
against unqualified competitors is also be-

THE GOVERNMENT department for
trade and representatives of various im-
migrants' organizations and of the cham-
bers of commerce have agreed on the
following principles for the disposal of
goods imported by immigrants for com-
mercial purposes:
1) All information on such goods must
be pooled. 2) All such goods shall be
bought on a non-profit basis by a special
clearing house which will advance to own-
ers sufficient amounts for their living
expenses and pay duties and other dues
until the goods are finally sold. 3) The
sale of such goods will be arranged
through the normal channels of commerce
by merchants organized in the chambers
of commerce and the importers' associa-
tion. 4) A joint committee of representa-
tives of the immigrants, the Jewish Agen-
cy and the chambers of commerce will
woi k out, in co-operation with the con-
trollers of supplies and prices, plans for
the sale of such merchandise in order to
prevent both unfair competitionwith sim-
ilar goods which arrived as regular im-
port:; and exploitation of immigrants un-
familiar with conditions in the local mar-
ket.
The Israeli treasury has decided not to
press for arrears of taxes due to evident
evasion during the mandatory regime be-
cause it is feared that such a measure
would drive underground much liquid
capital accumulated in past years which
is urgently needed for productive invest-
ments. The government has accepted the
explanation that it has always been con-
sidered not only expedient but also patrio-

Pending an official amnesty, which
the elected parliament may grant
if it considers it necessary, the treasury
has waived its right to investigate past
accounts and will resort to such attempts
only as a punitive measure against per-
sons found trying to evade taxes during
the current financial year. A special treas-
ury official will hear appeals in such cases
and on the evaluation of property for
purposes of taxation in general.
THE GOVERNMENT food control of-
fice has worked out plans to guarantee
every body a minimum of 2-700 calories
a day at controlled prices during 1949
and reduce fod imports at the same time.
The greatest difficulty is being encount-
ered in the supply of kosher and fresh
meat in general, but it is hoped to assure
residents up to 250 grs. of meat a week,
only part of it kosher. Another difficulty
is caused by the fact that almost all the
butter and cheese which can be bought
aboard is also not kosher.
The price of bread is soon to be reduced
by some 10 per cent as a result of a sub ,
sidy which is to be realized by the sale of
very cheap imported butter at prices not
too far removed from the high price of
local butter. Margarine, not butter, has
always been the popularly priced edible
fat among Jews in_Palestine.
The controller of supplies has arranged
for a considerable supply at reduced prices
of various utility goods, ranging from
men's clothing to bedlinen and plastic
tablecloths.

By A. BATH-AVI

in Israel

By M. TENENBLATT

(Member of the JTA Staff
in Israel)

(Copyright, 1949, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)

TEL AVIV—The government
planning bureau has refused to
approve plans for the formation
of two new towns, since one of
them would only have helped
further to congest the Haifa Bay
area while the other would have
competed with the existing town
of Nathanya. The government in-
sists on a more even spreading of
the population through the direc-
tion of new enterprises into here-
tofore undeveloped areas.
It has also been decided to dis-
courage the building-up of the
area north of Tel Aviv because
the soil there is fertile and should
rather be used for truck-farming
for the provisioning of the city.
Tel Aviv will be encouraged to
expand to the south of Jaffa on
the sand-dunes of Rishon le-Zion..
In order to forestall specula-
tion in privately-owned land as
a result of its expected rise in val-
ue following the development of
public lands, the government in-
tends to refrain in the future
from using public land exclusive-
ly for public or semi-public hous-
ing projects, as was customary
hitherto. New houses for immi-
grants and others will from now
on be erected, preferably on pri-
vately-owned land, the director
of the Public Works Department
recently declared in Jerusalem.
* * *
The American architect, A. So-
lov, who is visiting Israel at the
By DAVID SCHWARTZ
invitation of the government, has
(Copyright, 1949, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
recently submitted his first re-
Although it was Seder time, Mrs. Faber couldn't keep her mind port on the possibilities of
off the fact that the family had to move and had to find another planned development and settle-
ment of the country. Mr. Solov
apartment.
Don't worry so, said Mr. Faber, when the Jews went out of adyocates a more even distribu-
Egypt, they didn't have any houses to move into either, and they tion of the population, eighty per-
left in the middle of the night.
cent of which now lives in the
Maybe, said Mrs. Faber, they stopped at hotels. Sure, replied -
coastal plain while only five per-
Mr. Faber, don't you know. They all had reservations at the
cent lives in Galilee and one per-
Statler with a radio in every room. No, they didn't either. They
cent in the Negev. Further de-
stopped at the Hotel Wilderness.
velopment should be so directed
Did you ever hear of that hotel? It's the biggest hotel in the
that Tel Aviv will not continue
world. It's got hot and cold water and the newest inventions.
to grow considerably and will in
It's lighted up without any. electricity. Just the sun and the
due time hold some 15 percent of
moon and you don't even have to press a button to get them.
a total population of two million
You are joking,,charged Mrs. Faber, but it's no laughing matter. and a half, Solov believes.
* * *
*
Resettlement in the United States this year of a minimum of
Joey,
you
said
the
Jews
went
out
in
the
The
Jewish
Agency will spend
PAPA; SAID LITTLE
25,000 Jewish displaced persons is part of American Jewry's program middle of the night and I see in this Hagadah, there is a song about in 1949 eight million pounds
for emptying Europe's DP camps. Providing for adjustment of new- "The Middle of the Night." ($32,000,000) on housing. Two
Sure, said Mr: Faber, it tells about all the good things that thousand wooden dwellings are
corners to this country is an integral part of the nationwide $250,000,-
000 United Jewish Appeal campaign, which supports the Joint happened to the Jews in the middle of the night. already being manufactured in
Israel under an Agency contract,
It seems to me, said little Joey, it would have been wiser for
Distribution Committee, United Palestine Appeal and United Service
and an Agency architect has re-
them
to
have
left
in
the
morning.
Then
they
would
have
been
for New Americans. Detroit's Allied Jewish Campaign gives the
cently left for Sweden to buy
fresher. No one works in the middle of the night except burglars.
3,000 more. About 150 models of
major portion of its funds to the United Jewish Appeal.
All joking aside, papa, why didn't the Israelites wait till morn-
houses are to be built soon with
ing?
Because, continued Mr. Faber, the best things happened to the various materials and the most
Jews in the middle of the night. Read that piece in the Hagadah. suitable types will be chosen for
You see even the destruction of Haman began in the middle of the mass production for immigrants'
night. You remember the story in the Book of Esther. How King housing. This experiment is be-
Ahasuerus tosses sleeplessly in his bed and sends for his book of ing carried out by the Public
Chronicles and there it is recalled to him that Mordecai, the Jew,
By WALTER DUCKAT
had saved his life and he asks what reward was given to Mordecai ViTorks Ministry."
* * *
(Copyright, 1949, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
As a career counselor in a Jewish Agency, it is part of my. job for this patriotic deed.
The new public housing com-
with hundreds of young men and women, and their parents, to help
pany for immigrants, which was
THINK BACK TO THE TIME the Jews went out of Egypt. Try
them select a career which they will enjoy and in which they will
set up by the government, the
to
visualize
the
incident.
Several
times
Pharaoh
had
promised
to
advance. Many young people needlessly waste time, money and
Jewish Agency and other public
release
the
Jews,
but
each
time
he
backed
out.
So
Moses
was
taking
effort and suffer from great emotional strain because they select the
agencies, has at its disposal fin-
no
more
chances.
"Get
everything
ready,"
he
told
the
Jews.
"We
wrong college or course.
ished blueprints and all necessary
In the past few years getting cial capacity, the prestige a col- must not give Pharaoh a chance to change his mind this time."
"But we are going into -the wilderness," objected the Jews. materials for 4,000 housing units
admitted to any college was lege enjoys, its social and eco-
"We've got to take food along. We must have at least some bread which are to be erected in vari-
something of an accomplishment. nomic advantages, the applicant's for the journey. It takes some time for the bread to ferment."
ous localities. Materials for an-
The G.I. Bill of Rights made it scholastic record, and finally, the
other 6,000 units are to be ac-
"We
cannot
wait,"
said
Moses.
"Take
the
dough
along.
We'll
possible for more than a million decision of the college - admissions
quired shortly for foreign cur-
eat the bread unfermented."
veterans to get a college educa- board.
rency from the Agency's share in
And sure enough, the . next day Pharaoh had changed his
tion, many of whom otherwise
In choosing a college, you ought
the initial capital in order to get.
mind, but the Israelites had the jump on him. Besides there is
would have found it financially to know something about what
another advantage in leaving in the middle of the night. You
10,000 units ready for occupation-.
impossible. Improved economic your own educational plans are,
see the Israelites were awake, when the others were asleep, and
in the shortest possible time.
conditions also led many families and which -school or schools can
my son, if you keep awake when others sleep, you'll go far.
Meanwhile, efforts are being
to send their children off to col- best serve you. Most schools can
Well, interrupted Joey, the Israelites this year won over the made to augment the initial pub-
lege who a few years ago could be grouped into three types aca- Egyptians and other Arab states and they didn't go out in the middle lic capital of five million pounds
not have done so.
of the night.
demically:
by interesting private contractors
Many people are baffled as to
Oh yes, they did, said Mr. Faber, they must have. We haven't in the country in this scheme.
• Those colleges or universi-
how to select the best college for ties which assume that many of got their full story yet, but all that we know shows that that is the Prospective investors hope that
their needs. Jewish parents must their graduates will continue their way they won their victory this time, too. Don't you remember that the treasury will afford them cer-
consider that their children still education in professional schools. when the stories of the victories of the Jews in Palestine came, every- tain exceptional facilities for the
have to cope with the vexing Examples are Columbia, Harvard one was surprised? What happened? They had covered their prep- purpose.
problems of college quotas for and University of Chicago. arations with the darkness of night. Otherwise there would have
Building costs are rising con-
Jews. Later, when they seek em- Schools in this group place great been no surprise.
*
*
*
stantly because of the • shortage
ployment, they still must contend : emphasis upon academic studies.
of labor, which has brought on a
Papa, said Joey suddenly, where. is mama?
with discriminatory hiring prac- Their requirements and pace are
Mr. Faber looked up. Yes, he asked, where is mama? He went "black market wage" for building
tices of some firms.
to the kitchen. Mrs. Faber wasn't there. He looked everywhere. laborers. Since Histadrut con-
usually pretty stiff.
Wise Jewish parents recognize
Where could she have disappeared to? I saw her just a few Minutes cerns for building materials and
Those
colleges
where
most
•
that an understanding of the Jew-
ago, he said.
construction pay of course only
of
their
students
stop
their
for-
ish past and present and partici-
Some ten or fifteen minutes later, Mr. Faber became worried.
the wages fixed by Histadrut,
mal
training
upon
graduation.
pation in Jewish communal prob
Maybe he should call in the police, Suddenly, the door opened
they lose workers to priyate con-
lems and social activities can lead These schools offer less abstract
and Mrs. Faber entered joyously.
tractors whenever the difference
or
theoretical
courses
and
more
to the maximum adjustment of
We've got an apartment, she said.
in wage levels is sufficient to
practical
courses,
useful
upon
their children. They will, there-
"What do you mean, asked Mr. Faber, where have you been? counteract consideratiOns of job
graduation.
Courses
at
these
fore, encourage their children to
I'll tell you, said Mrs. Faber, I listened to your talk to Joey security, and sometimes have to
participate in Jewish activities on schools are generally as hard as about the middle of the night and I thought I would do the same face wild-cat strikes in their own
type
one.
the college campus. Informed
thing the Israelites did. I figured if I went out now and bought the enterprises. This situation is re-
or morning papers, I could be first to see what apartments were for
universities
• Colleges,
Bnai Brith members know of the
sponsible also for continual rises
splendid work in this regard per- technical schools where the foUr- rent. Sure enough, one of the ads impressed me. I called up and we on building materials costs.
year
course
completes
the
educa-
have
the
apartment.
After
Passover,
we
can
go
down
and
sign
the
formed by Hine' in 191 colleges
.tion of all of the students. Fre- lease.
throughout the country.
6—THE JEWISH NEWS
And so' it was iii the middle of the night that the housing problem
• The final _choice of a ,college„ is quently, .skills useful in the-occu-
Friday, April 15, 1949
was
solved
for
the
Fabers.
pational
world
are
emphasized.
a compoUnd of a family's finan-

Land of the Free and the Freed

Career Counselor Offers Advice
On-How to Select the Best College

The Middle of the Night ...
... A Fable for Passover

