President Nicolae Ceausescu of Rumania assured Donald M. Robinson, president of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, that any Jew wishing to leave Rumania for family reunion in Israel or any other country would be able to do so, it was reported here today.
The Rumanian leader made the statement during an audience last Friday morning with Robinson, Ralph.
Goldman, JDC executive vice president, and Chief Rabbi Moses Rosen, president of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Rumania. Stefan Andrei, Rumanian Foreign Minister, was also present.
The JDC leaders were in Bucharest for the dedication of the new Olteniei Home for the Aged, a 220-bed facility, and also nursing cases. The home was named The Amalia and Rabbi Moses Rosen Home in honor of the Chief Rabbi’s 40 years of service and leadership to the community. Amalia is the rabbi’s wife.
Calling the meeting “historic.” Robinson said “It was the first time a President of an East European country met with the president of the Joint Distribution Committee for a face-to-face talk on the condition of the Jewish Community and the work of the JDC in that country.” The JDC, Robinson said, “spends close to $3.5 million for a variety of social assistance programs aiding over 10,000 of the 40,000 Jews estimated to reside in Rumania.
Ceausescu was very much interested in the “most favored nation” status for his country, Robinson said. He assured Ceausescu that he would present his personal feelings to leaders of the American Jewish community that it should be continued.
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