Israel Provides Home For Uprooted Children

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29853, 20 June 1962, Page 2

Israel Provides Home For Uprooted Children

Children who have known misery and fear and who have suffered discrimination and persecution, cannot easily grow up into normal human beings.

But a method of absorbing uprooted children from all countries of the world, started in Israel before the Second World War, is still playing an important role in protecting the rights of Jewish-born children throughout the world.

In an article entitled ‘‘Odyssey of Children” in the latest journal of the Save the Children Fund, an account is given of this movement, by which an estimated 100,000 war refugee, orphan and other uprooted Jewish children from 72 countries, have been saved. Known as the Children and Youth Aliyah Movement, the organisation is closely associated with the International Union for Child Welfare, the international Save the Children Fund and its British committee with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. Originally formed by a band of ddvoted men and women at the onset of the Nazi rise to power in 1935. the movement had by the outbreak of war already saved an estimated 5000 Jewish children from extermination. War Survivors Even during the darkest days of the war, 10.000 more war refugees and orphan children reached safety in Palestine. By the end of the liberation. a further 15.000 child survivors from concentration camps and other hiding spots throughout Europe had been

gathered together by the Youth Aliyah. At the present time there are 12,500 Youth Aliyah children in more than 250 children's villages, schools and settlements throughout Israel and 12 day training centres for children living with their parents in the new immigrant villages. Also provided by the organisation are three child guidance clinics and a special village for children suffering from psychological maladjustments resulting from their past experiences. In addition scholarships for the more highly gifted youth are provided for continued study at universities, colleges and art schools. Method Outlined

How is the difficult process of rehabilitating the uprooted child achieved on such a vast scale? The article says

this is achieved by division of the children into small homogeneous communities, to diminish the shock they have already suffered in the loss of their homes and families.

The individual group thus provides a social basis on which the child can construct a substitute for his shattered family life and regain a sense of security.

To achieve these ends, the movement employs a special type of youth leader, who is not only educator and instructor to his charges, but their friend, guide and advisor. New Intake Though at present fully committed financially to the 12,500 children already in its care. the movement has agreed to take as an emergency, 1000 more Jewish refugee children still suffering discrimination and persecution in various countries of the world. The article suggests that perhaps the spirit and essence of the movement have been best captured by Albert Einstein when he described it as "the means of restoring to the children under its auspices not only physical and mental health, but faith in human affection and human dignity."