IL S ASR

istadrut Merits Our Support"

THE JEWISH NEWS-13
Friday, January 4, 1952

By HON. ALBEN W. BARKLEY

Vice-President of the United States

As one who has taken a keen interest in the work of the
Histadrut, I know how important it is as an instrument of
democracy not only in the JewiSh state but in the entire Middle
East area. The Histadrut has made a great contribution to demo-
cratic living in Israel and its progress—based on social justice,
cooperation, and economic and political democracy—is bound to
influence the Middle East. For ideas can penetrate man-made
barriers and political frontiers and act as an incentive for good.
Because of its past achievements and its future potentialities, I
am convinced that the Histadrut is as important to Israel as
Israel is to the democratic cause. And as such, it merits the
support of all who cherish freedom.

The State of Israel, born out of the chaos of 2,000 years of
Jewish wandering and persecution, is a nation dedicated to
peace and democracy. The country may be small geographical-
ly, but its mission in the world is a great one. I am confident
that Israel is and will continue to be equal to its historic task.

There has been a meeting of the minds between the people
of the United States and the people of Israel. As an American, I
am gratified by the knowledge that Americans find it within
their means and interests to give support to great voluntary
undertakings on behalf of the Jewish State. In this day and age,
it is incumbent upon us all to give every support to democratic
causes, so that our way of life may be nurtured and sustained
in the face of Communist aggression and feudal influence.

ALBEN W. BARKLEY

"Without Histadrut There Could Be No Israel"

DAVID BEN-GURION

Prime Minister of Israel

The establishment of the Jewish State in Israel was not only
a great national revolution, but also a great social revolution.
Israel is a Jewish State, but it is also to a large extent a workers'
state. In Israel, there is a Jewish Government, but to a large
extent it is a labor government. We had to become workers in
Israel in order to be -able to create a Jewish State. Without
Jewish workers, developing the land, there could not have been a
Jewish State.

A country cannot be bought with money. Only those who
work and develop the land possess it. The generation that came
before us to Palestine were those who began building the Jew-
ish State; but our generation had the privilege of becoming the
workers of the land. Work is the foundation of our country, of
our culture and of our people. Without the Jewish workers, we
would have failed.

The working people of Israel organized in the Histadrut and
the Government of Israel are actually one and the same thing.
The workers carry the responsibility also for other groups, for
the business men as well as for. the producers.

BEN-GURION

Weizmann's Message to Histadrut Campaign

"Please convey my heartiest greetings to the National Com-
mittee for Labor Israel. Your efforts in the past contributed sub-
stantially to the upbuilding of Israel and its liberation. •

"May we derive encouragement to continue the gigantic en-
terprise being erected in our State from your past achievements.
My personal blessings and greetings are sent to all your active
workers.

"May they be strengthened in their mission and may they see
the fruits of their devoted labors.

"DR. CHAIM WEIZMANN

President of Israel."

RODUCTIVE

HEALTH

800,000 Israelis, over half the population, are served
by the Histadrut medical organiZation, Kupat Holim.
• the largest voluntary cooperative health system in
the Middle East. The 1952 Kupat Holim budget
amounts to $31,000,000, including direct services to
30,000 persons daily, maintenance of hospitals, clinics,
and other institutions, and building new institutions
for the care of recent immigrants.
In. 1952 Kupat. Holim is building 223 new clinics,
which will make a total of 879 clinics in 721 com-
munities including every rural pioneer settlement.
Kupat Holim is building two new hospitals (one at
Rehovot and another for TB cases at Kfar Saba) in•
addition to expanding most of its 14 older hospitals.
In 1952 the hospital bed capacity will be increased
by 1,200. A long range building program calls for an
additional $9,000,000 by 1954.
Kupat Maim is the only available medical srevice
for tens of thousands of new immigrants in maabarot
and permanent villageS. To expand its physical re-
sources and staff of 1,200 doctors and 1,500 nurses,.
Kupat Hothn urgently needs millions of dollars. The
American.. Thstarlrut Campaign shares in this vital
activity.• . •

TOBIN HAILS HISTADRUT AS
"STRONG, INTELLIGENT"

WASHINGTON, D. C.—Secretary of Labor Maurice J. Tobin,
recently returned from a special mission to Israel, has hailed the
Histadrut, the General Federation of Labor in Israel, as "a strong
and intelligent labor movement, well organized
and conscious of its social duties and obliga-
tions." ,

Dealing with the trade-union aspects of the
Histadrut, 1VLr. Tobin said that like American
trade unions, the Histadrut firmly believes in -
free collective bargaining and in settling disputes
with management through the process of nego-
tiation and conciliation.

"But the foremost consideration of Israeli
Workers is the welfare of their country," Mr.
Tobin said. "They fully realize that it is their
task to absorb the new immigrants into the economic life of the
country and in order to do that they have assumed the responsi- .
bility for training these immigrants into experienced craftsmen
or in new professions." a- .1,

Tobin

Mr. Tobin said that • Israel's workers are also concentrating
their efforts to increase the productivity of labor in the new
industrial plants. Last year, he said, Histadrut sent to the United
States a mission of 40 workers, skilled in metalworking, shoes,.
textiles, glass, and other trades, to work in the plants and, -
through personal . experience, get acquainted with our most
advanced plants and machinery, and our advanced methods of -:
production in their respective fields.

"Other elements of the population of Israel,- and particularly.
the government, are fully aware of the importance of experience
and technical knowledge as a factor in high productivity," Mr..
Tobin said. "Last year, and again this year, there has been a
constant flow of American businessmen, American engineers and
technicians going - to Israel, with Israeli businesSmen and Israeli
technicians coming to the United States. Israel knows and
appreciates the value of our Point Four Program, initiated by
President Truman, and is already receiving engineering and other.'
technical aid directly from the United States and from the United
Nations, of which Israel is a member. We in the Department of
Labor are happy to contribute our share, in terms of our technical .
knowledge and our personnel for the benefit of Israel."

The Labor Secretary said that Israel is living in a modern
world and is thinking in modern terms. He said that the people.
and the Israel government know that the secret of American-
economic progress and prosperity lies in our high productive
machinery, operated by enlightened management in cooperation:
with a highly skilled and intelligent labor force organized into a:
free and independent trade union movement.

- "Our labor productivity is the highest in the world and so is
our standard of living," Mr. Tobin pointed out. "Israel is not only
aware of this development in the United States but is definitely .
planning her own agricultural and _ industrial program on a:
pattern similar to our own."
He said that the people of Israel, the agricultural communesa
the city workers, and the business community are all of one mind
so far as the principal aims of Israel are concerned. There is also
substantial agreement between the government and the people of
Israel as to the means to be used and the road they intend to -
follow to accomplish this very difficult task.

Mr. Tobin believes, however, that "will-power and determina-
tion, even of the character developed in Israel with her severe,.
though self-imposed austerity program, are not sufficient."

Israel needs tools and equipment, he stressed. Israel needs
plants and factories and housing facilities for her workers if she
is to achieve the progress needed to accomplish Israel's goal. This-
he said, requires investment capital and more capital goods to
build up and expand her economy. He expressed the hope that -
with American aid, Israel will accomplish her goal.

ATION IN ISRAEL
CULTURE

TRAINING

Vocational training for youth and new immigrants
of all ages is offered by Histadrut in its trade schools
and various cooperatives. The Amal trade schools in
Jerusalem, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Hadera, Ramleh, Petach
Tikvah, Tiberias have 815 students taking courses in
automechanics, aviation, mechanics, carpentry, chem-
istry, machine shop, etc. Two new schools are con-
templated at Afikim and Sarid. In addition, two
thousand teen-age boys and girls attend farm schools
of Histadrut. The American Histadrut Campaign
helps build and equip the schools and provides schol-
arships.

- Three thousand adult workers were given voca-
tional training this Spring, elementary courses being
given on-the-job, and advanced classes in theory at
evening classes. Anotner 10,000 workers have been
trained in the Build.pg Trades, in cooperation with
the Ministry of Labor. The 1952 goal is to train
16,000 workers through a combined effort of govern- ,
.went, Histadrut and private enterprises,

The blending of Jews from scores of countries into
one harmonious community acquainted with the corn-
mon heritage of our people, speaking the Hebrew:
tongue and creating new values that have their roots
in the experiences of past and present, is one of the
highest goals of our time. Histadrut which has done-.
so much to revive Hebrew culture and instill new
values, is bringing to the newcomers the aleph beth
of Israel's literary treasures, ancient and contempo-
rary. Sponsoring language lessons for thousands a
immigrants, young and old, publishing - Omer (the only
Hebrew daily printed with pointed vowels) for the
benefit of those just beginning to read the language;
organizing study groups, dramatic and musical ac-
tivities, furnishing libraries with books, films and
records, stimulating adult interest in academic and
technical courses, Histadrut is making a signal con-
tribution to the maintenance of the high cultural
standards of Israel.
Physical facilities for cultural and social life ari
being built through the special effort of the Histadru%
members and the Israel Histadrut Campaign, which
plan to erect .250 community centers, especially 1*
new. funtoigra.nt village?s ,: .

