Absorption of the Mass Immigration to Israel 1948-1954

Born in Sfax, Tunisia, 1928. French education. Member and leader of Zeirim Ohavei Zion, 1945-1948. Aliya, 1948, to instruct in Hagana camps. Fifteen month service in IDF. Organizing people of Tunisian and Morrocan origin to settle in Gilat in Negev. Gilat's secretary 1951-1954, 1957. Problems of housing, agriculture, infrastructure, development and security. Social and agricultural training by veteran residents. Difficulties of agriculture as basis of economic subsistence. Parents arriving after mass immigration from Tunisia in 1949; after stay in immigrant camp in Beit Lid relocating to Jerusalem. Ten people in family; difficult conditions at first. Marrying in Tunisia in 1950 and returning to Israel. As emissary to Tunisia effecting aliya of 500 families in thirty months, 1954. Some 15,000 Tunisian Jews emigrating by 1967. Jewish community in Tunisia almost non-existent. Difficulties causing thousands to leave Israel for France in first years. Since 1954 direct absorption at settlements and abolition of transit camps. Conditions promised in Tunisia surpassed by conditions finally received. At first selection of aliya candidates by age; finally transfer of entire villages from Atlas mountains. Tunisian Jews preferring moshavim to kibbutzim.