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By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
HAIFA PORT, Israel — The
"ingathering of the exiles" goes
on with such rapidity here, and
the "kibutz galuyot" prophecies
are being fulfilled with such
marked efficiency, that visitors
literally are .dazed by the skill
with which immigrants are wel-
comed by and integrated into
Israel.
We watched the arrival of 700
immigrants from North Africa and
Eastern Europe on two boats that
docked here on a single day—on
the SS Aliyah of the Zini Lines
and on a Greek boat chartered by
. Both sailed from Marseilles.
There were many deeply moving
scenes as relatives, some of whom
had not seen each other for many
years, welcomed the new arrivals
to their last refuge—their* new
land of freedom. But there were
some without relatives and the
Jewish Agency, and representa-
tives of the State of Israel, were
on hand to assure a hearty wel-
come to the escapees from per-
secution.
• A new program is in effect
here, contrasting with that of
a few years ago, resulting from
the experiences gained from
dealing with new settlers. The
maabarot, the temporary shacks
in which the settlers used to be
housed, are being abandoned.
Newcomers are now assigned to
new homes, which are being
built by tens of thousands wher-
ever there are settlements of
Jewish workers.
The new arrivals at once are
provided with the pride of citizen-
ship in their new homeland. No-
where else could such acts con-
ceivably be put into effect. As the
new immigrants arrive, they are
assigned places to live, definite
jobs in specific kibutzim or other
settlements and they are given
their citizenship. Thus, before a
new settler has a chance to touch
the soil of Israel, he is granted
citizenship, in compliance with the
established rule of this remarkable
State that every Jew who wishes
may come here and become a
citizen of Medinat Israel.
If all participants in the United
Jewish Appeal could see how the
process of receiving the Olim
Hadashaim—the new arrivals—is
carried out, the gifts might double.
The witnessing of the reception
of the new settlers must be linked
with a study of the evolution of
the maabara, the but in which the
immigrant formerly was housed
in Israel. The country is dotted
with maabarot. But most of them
now are vacant. Attractive new
homes are replacing them.
Some Israelis are critical of the
standardiation of the new im-
migrant homes. But they readily
admit that the mass production
of them, necessitated by the ex-
pectance this year alone for more
than 75,000 new immigrants and
by the fact that their construction
is a single process carried out by
the Jewish Agency with UJA
funds, justifies the retention of
a single pattern.
Some of the immigrants choose
to join relatives and friends in
their private business or farming
enterprises. Neither the Jewish
Agency nor the Israel government
stand in their way. They enjoy
perfect freedom of choice. But
the overwhelming majority of the
new arrivals must be assisted, and
the manner in which they get aid
is part of the wondrous scheme of
Israel's constructive work.
With his citizenship certi-
ficates, the new immigrant is
assigned to a new home, to a
specific job in a specific loca-
tion. He gets two days' supply of
food in advance, for his trip to
his new home, and upon his
arrival there he finds all neces-
sities—work implements, cattle
where necessary, assistance for
himself and his family. School-
ing is assured for the children.
A new life begins for hitherto
dispossessed people.
Thus, without question, the
highest degree in justice and
charity is being attained here by
people who seek fair play and
peace.
Nahman Rab, the public rela-
tions officer of the Port of Haifa
Authority, tells, a marvelous story
of great attainments at this port,
which is now being expanded,
where boats arrive from many
lands, where we Saw the most
recent addition to the Israel mer-
chant fleet, the SS Herzl, in dry
dock.
The Haifa Port story is part
of the great development called
Israel. The port, its ships, the
people it welcomes, is the, tale of
the beginning of a new life in an
old new land.
A View of Haifa Port
Three Detroiters Get Foothold
in Kfar Blum Educational Scheme
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
KFAR BLUM, Israel—Saadiah
Gelb, who at one time lived in
Detroit and studied at the Uni-
versity of Michigan, and who now
is secretary of this kibutz, said he
spoke the sentiments of the entire
kibutz of 700 families in welcom-
ing three Detroiters to Kfar Blum.
Marshall Rubin, Lionel Maslow-
ski and Norman Shiffman are part
of an American contingent that
came here to study and to work
on the farms for the next 11
months. The three boys seem very
happy in their new environment.
They have begun to learn to speak
Hebrew in Havarath Sefardit.
They are learning the ways of
the land and already are part of
an interesting family of builders
of a cooperative settlement.
Thirty countries are represented
in the 700 Kfak Blum residents.
Named in honor of Leon Blum,
during the lifetime of the former
Premier of France, the French
government has taken an interest
in the kibutz and a visit to it
has become a must for French-
men.
Last week, in fact, the kibutz
was host to a troupe of French
dancers who entertained in Israel.
The settlers include people from
the East and the West, and many
are from Western Europe, Can-
ada and the United States. It is
a mixed farming community and
it is prospering in Israel's peculiar
way: as long as there is enough
to eat and a sufficient amount
left over to provide for new
settlers, the kibutz is happy.
Friday, October 25, 1957—TH E DETROIT J EWISH N EWS-40
Highest Degree of Charity and Justice
Exemplified in Israel Integration Story