.WHAT IT IS
The Problems of 1950
We are faced with critical problems in 1950. Some of the problems are a direct
result of the fact that not enough money was raised last year. We can boast that
250,000 entered Israel in 1949. But we cannot overlook the grim fact that there
are still 85,000 immigrants in the reception camps-and that number may not be
substantially reduced before the end of the year.
Impact of ,Immigration
Only this year have we begun to realize the impact of this tremendous immigra-
tion on the economy of the young Jewish State. Where we have fallen short, the
Jews of Israel have had to rush in with every resource that was available to them.
Today the economic crisis is as much of a threat to the survival of Israel as was
the aggression of six Arab armies two years ago.
Because there was no money to build adequate housing quickly, the immigrants
have had to remain in the tent cities and the barracks in the camps. They have had
to stay not merely two weeks or a month; most of them have had to wait as long as
six months and more to find some place to call home. As a- result, they remain
unproductive and the Jewish Agency and the people of ISrael must provide them
with food, clothing and shelter.
-
.What People of Israel Are Doing
We can take pride in many. achievements. But let us not forget that the people
of Israel, among whom there are only 300,000 taxpayers, are today giving more
for the maintenance and absorption of the newcomers than the 5,000,000 Jews of
the United States. Israel's definition of giving is quite simple. It means sacrifices,
austerity, increased taxes, reduced wages and a general tightening of the belt.
Another problem is the military situation. Israel wants peace, needs it desperately
to absorb the immigrants and develop its economic, social and cultural life. However,
the Arab states have not shown any willingness to make peace. Instead many of
their leaders are talking of a second round in the shooting war. And we know that
Britain has been supplying Egypt, for example, with the latest war equipment and
weapons-Sherman tanks, submarines, destroyers and jet planes.
Effect on Security Program
In such a situation Israel must look to its security needs. It must be prepared for
any eventuality. The minute the Arabs feel themselves strong enough they will
attack and Jewish blood will flow again. The United Jewish Appeal does not ask
for funds to bolster the defenses of the Jewish State. But it is a grave injustice to
Israel to force her to divert the resources she needs for self-defense into other
channels, particularly the care and resettlement of new immigrants, which after all
are our responsibility as much as that of the people of Israel.
It requires more than the mere transfer of the DP problem from Germany to
Israel to solve it. The immigrant camps in Israel are definitely worse than the DP
camps in Germany. The newcomers must be moved out of the reception camps
quickly. Otherwise they will lose hope and they will have to endure more suffering
and misery. We must not permit them to grow bitter in the realization that they
have reached the Promised Land only to find its promise still unfulfilled.
Immigrants Endure Great Hardship
This winter brought the worst ordeal for the new immigrants, even for those who
have crossed the desert on foot and others who have spent years in exile waiting
for the chance to reach Israel. Some sixteen inches of rain fell in one week in Israel;
lakes of mud formed under the tents, temporary houses were swept aside by the
torrential rain and cold and disease gripped many families. Shortly thereafter, Israel
was hit 13§- severe snowstorms and new,hardships were visited on the newcomers
huddled in the tent cities.
Urgent Need for Continued Immigration
In 1949 UJA helped 250,000 refugees reach the shores of Israel. In 1950 we must
bring a minimum of 150,000 others to the Jewish State. Jews in Moslem lands are
mass flight from persecution and poverty. This is disaster immigration that cannot
delayed without endangering the lives of many thousands of men, women and
children. In Eastern Europe we are faced with "now or never" emigration. There
is a September 1st deadline on the emigration of approximately 20,000 Jews from
Poland. After that date the Iron Curtain will come down and none will be able
to leave.
OMMUNITY AND THE WORLD
Were Distributed in 1949-50
EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL
74,788
$
..$ 92,000
American Academy for Jewish Research $ 200
2,700
American Assoc. for Jewish Education
350
Conference on Jewish Relations
2,500
Dropsie College
900
Histadruth lvrith
375
Menorah Association... ..... _ • . -
250
National Agricultural College
350
Nat'l Confer. of Jewish Social Welfare
Training Bureau for Jewish Communal
Service
••-•• 2,500
4,000 $14,175
Yiddish Scientific Institute .
ly • • N Sao • MD
.....
cans)
eiz-
3,515,000
8,333
-
brew
8,333
8,333
ens. 15,600
ant
17,100
.... 1,401
vices 5,000
64,101
$154,055
-Protective)
18,750 .
7,500
... 60,000
soil/
1,000
87,250
COMMUNITY SERVICE (Health and Welfare)
1,020
Bellefaire-Regional Child Care Service
B'nai B'rith Nat'l Youth Services Appeal 16,500
Council of Jewish Federations and
Welfare Funds
.• • 11,285
750
Jewish Occupational Council. ...
3,000
Jewish War Veterans (National).....
75
"
National Desertion Bursau
National Jewish Welfare Board...... 20,000 52,630
$575,000
5. Contingency and Shrinkage........_
Campaign and Collections....,........ $255,763
312,500
Reserve for
6,737
Emergency
LLIED JE ISH
Israel . . throughout the world
W AT IT DOES
Hard Core Program
Another problem facing the UJA this year is the task of taking care of the "hard
core" cases still left in the DP centers of Germany. There are some 4,000 aged,
infirm and maimed, those who suffered most under Hitler and those who have
waited longest to find a new home. Through the combined efforts of the Joint Dis-
tribution Committee, the Jewish Agency (United Palestine Appeal) and the Govern-
ment of Israel, a new program has been set up to transfer the "hard core" cases to
Israel and to build special hospitals and rest centers to , maintain and rehabilitate
most of them.
Problems in Eastern Europe and Moslem Lands
While European Jewry is definitely on the road to rehabilitation, relief needs are
still acute in certain countries, particularly in Hungary, and the JDC still has the
problem of caring for many thousands of children, and adults over sixty years of age.
In the Moslem countries where 800,000 Jews live in the shadow of oppression, an
increased medical care and•feeding program must be carried on to save the children
from the ravages of disease and malnutrition.
Program in United States
In 1949 a record number of 39,000 Jewish refugees arrived in the United States.
In 1950 a minimum of 25,000 are expected to come to this country. The problem of
giving the newcomers a good start so that they may be properly and speedily inte-
grated into the economic and social life of the country must be met through the
'United Service for New Americans.
We Can Be Proud of Our Achievements
In 1949 we promised to bring 180,000 immigrants into Israel and 'we actually'
brought 250,000 into the Jewish State.
We promised to empty the DP camps in Germany and only 40,000 Jews remain
in the camps.
We promised to bring 24,500 Jewish refugees into America and 39,000 Jewish
refugees reached the shores of the United States.
We promised to rescue the Jews of Moslem countries and we helped 80,000 Jews
escape persecution in those lands.
We promised to build homes for newcomers to the Jewish State and 31,078 hous-
ing units were completed in Israel.
We promised to speed Europe's Jews toward economic independence and 30,066
European Jewish families were made self-supporting.
What We Must Achieve in 1950
1. Provide homes for 85,000 new immigrants who are now living in temporary
reception camps in Israel.
2. Provide for the immigration and settlement of a minimum of 150,000 addi-
tional newcomers in Israel this year.
3. Establish 125 new agricultural settlements to speed. the absorption of newly
arrived refugees in the Jewish State.
4. Provide rehabilitation and relief for a minimum of 250,000 Jews in Western
and Eastern Europe, including 63,000 children.
5. Provide medical aid and child care for tens of thousands of the 800,000 Jews
living in poverty and need in Moslem lands.
6. Aid in the adjustment of 25,000 Jewish refugees who are expected to enter
the United States this year.
.
1950 Needs of United Palestine Appeal
From forty countries scattered over the face of the globe 400,000 Jews have
streamed to Israel since May 14, 1948 when the Jewish State was proclaimed. The
agencies of the United Palestine Appeal-the Jewish Agency for Palestine, the
Palestine Foundation Fund (Keren Hayesod) and the Jewish National Fund (Keren
Kayemeth) -will need a minimum of $209,559,800 for aid to these newcomers
during ,1950.
The UPA agencies must:
1. Provide initial care and absOrption aid for newcomers to Israel. At least
150,000 will arrive during 1950. There are still 85,000 earlier arrivals in temporary
reception camps.
2. ProVide homes for Israel's new citizens; Without adequate housing, _there can
be no-lasting solution of the problems of immigrants. 37,830 housing units must be
completed during the twelve months ending September 30, 1950. Housing costs are
being kept at a minimum; wherever possible, prefabricated houses are being used.
3. Acquire land and develop new settlements. New colonies, especially in the
Negev and 'in Galilee, will provide dwelling space whiCh is desperately needed. At
the same time, they will make Israel a stronger nation economically. , • _
4. Aid in the development of Jerusalem to accommodate new immigrants. 20,000
have already settled there; many thousands more will - come. Industries must be
developed and homes built in the Jerusalem area.
More than three-quarters of the immigrants who have entered Israel since the
Jewish State was proclaimed have found permanent homes and have been made
part of the life of their new homeland. The work of construction and development
in Israel must continue to provide for the 85,000 men, women and children in the
reception camps and for those who will arrive in the coming months.
1950 Needs of Joint Distribution Committee
During the past two years, the Joint Distribution Committee has carried out the
greatest mass emigration in Jewish history. The DP camps have been almost emptied.
Entire Jewish communities, such as the persecuted Jews of Yemen, have been
transferred to Israel.
The JDC will need $44,512,000 in 1950 to continue its emigration and rehabilita-
tion programs.
The Joint Distribution Committee must:
1. Finance the immigration of tens of thousands of Jews to Israel during 1950.
This immigration cannot be postponed. In the Moslem lands, many tens of thousands
must flee for their very lives. In Eastern Europe, deadlines have been set on Jewish
emigration; for'example, the 20,000 who will come out of Poland must leave before
September 1st; which the Polish Government has set as the time limit for emigra-
tion to Israel.
2. Provide aid for 500,000 European Jews, and hundreds of thousands in North
Africa and other Moslem areas. In Huniary alone, 110,000 Jews, mostly aged and
unemployable, need assistance. In France, 23,000 persons still receive JDC help.
In Morocco, the JDC supplies 13,000 children and many adults with their only
decent food.
3. Undertake the care and rehabilitation of 4,000 "hard core" cases and their
5,000 dependents among immigrants to Israel. The cost of this program is shared
by the JDC, the Jewish Agency and the Government of Israel. It will provide for
the aged and those disabled by illness or injury.
1950 Needs of United Service for New Americans
- Approximately 39,000 Jewish refugees entered the United States during 1949,
the greatest number in any year since the war. The United Service for New Ameri-
cans and the New York Association for New Americans are supported by funds
raised through the United Jewish Appeal. They plan to aid in the absorption of an
additional 25,000 in 1950.
The newcomers must be assisted from the moment they arrive in port until they
can be fully integrated into the life of the American community. Many must learn
the language and receive job training before employment can be found for them.
For others with needed skills job opportunities must be found, or loans provided
for the establishment of small businesses. As many as possible must be transported
to communities away from crowded ports of entry, where they can start on the road
to independence as new Americans.
MPAIGN
THE JEWISH NEWS-1 1 ,
Fridai, April 21, 1950 ,