July 24
— Women International Zionist Organization (WIZO) tour
— Vocational schools and children’s village
— Tank traps and barbed wire along Jerusalem border
—
Village and vocational school for children of Polish and Russian immigrants where they learn a trade.
July 24, 1957
Wednesday Evening
Dear Mom Dad & Alan,
Today was another very exciting day. We got up early in the morning and toured the environs of Jerusalem and especially the Women International Zionist Organization facilities here. What I liked the most was the well-equipped vocational high schools where all the boys and most girls are taught a technical trade. The products of the schools are sold on the open market and so help the schools once they are established self-supporting. The quality of the work seemed very high and I stayed a little while and talked to the kids. Afterwards we went to the Children’s Village.
The kids were all Polish and Russian who were staying there for a while until their parents could learn Hebrew and find work. All had left older brothers and sisters behind the Iron curtain. Only old folks and kids are getting out now.
In the afternoon I went to the religious section of Jerusalem. Tank traps and barbed wire were seen all along the border. I found out that the fighting with Syria that we read about a few weeks ago had been brought to a halt by a massive Israeli retaliation which killed a whole Syrian Army post. They didn’t publicize it in Syria because they didn’t want to show how weak they were. Everyone here says next time Syria starts it will be another Sinai. It’s getting late so I’ll have to close.
Love,
Bob
P.S. I’m sorry if I am sloppy but I’m kept so busy it’s not even funny.
Comments:
Sunday July 24, Wednesday evening
“We got up early in the morning and toured the environs of Jerusalem and especially the Women International Zionist Organization facilities here.”
Women International Zionist Organization WIZO was founded in 1920 in direct response to the needs of women and children in Israel. It set up many facilities to absorb the new immigrants, especially women and children. The contributions to the State of Israel by womens’ organizations such as WIZO, Hadassah, Amit and Emunah cannot be understated.
“In the merit of the righteous women that were in that generation, Israel was redeemed.”
(Sotah 11b)
“What I like the most was the well-equipped vocational high schools where all boys and most girls are taught a technical trade.”
With Israel’s increasing population and diversity, it would be nice to see even more vocational schools opening.
“P.S. – I’m sorry if I’m sloppy but I’m kept so busy it’s not even funny”
My father apologized to his parents for his sloppy penmanship. He wrote in another letter,
“please excuse the penmanship as I always write in a spare moment without a table to lean on.”
Obviously, his handwriting could not have been so bad if I was able to read it sixty years later.
Since his mother was an English teacher, my father tried his hardest to write clearly. She was also a perfectionist, which is probably what motivated him to write in such detail.