Orthodox Rabbis’ Appeal Urges Support for U.j.c.

An appeal for support for the United Jewish Campaign was issued by the Agudath Harabonim, the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of America.

“We urge that every Rabbi in this country cooperate with the United Jewish Campaign in order to enable the Joint Distribution Committee to continue its reconstruction, cultural, medical and child care activities in all parts of the world. This is a campaign not only to save their bodies but also to save the souls of our people overseas, and a holy obligation rests on every Rabbi to give it his active support,” the appeal said.

A plea to New York Jewry to aid their suffering brethren in Eastern European countries was issued in a special Passover appeal by Louis Marshall and Felix M. Warburg, honorary chairmen, David A. Brown, National chairman, William Fox, chairman and David M. Bressler and Jonah J. Goldstein, vice-chairmen of the United Jewish Campaign of New York. The appeal read:

“There are no words in the human vocabulary which can overstate the terrific tragedy of the Jews of Eastern Europe. As we have said time and time again, the lives of millions of Jews are in the hands of American Jewry–and unless American Jewry acts quickly, acts in the most self-sacrificing manner possible, the last glimmer of hope will be gone.

“Thousands of hands are stretched out to us. Thousands of voices are raised in a piteous plea for help–the voices of babes, of old men and women, of orphans, of widows.

“Men who a short while ago were rich and who were giving charity are now applicants for charity. Hundreds have been driven to suicide in Poland and in Germany because they are unable any longer to face the horrors of life. The Rabbis of Poland have been compelled to issue a ban against the burial of suicides on Jewish cemeteries, in the hope that in this way they may succeed in restraining many from self-destruction. In Berlin a few weeks ago, a mass meeting was called at which the audience was asked to pledge itself not to commit suicide.

“During this week which commemorates Israel’s release from bondage we call upon the Jews of New York, the largest and richest Jewish community in the world, to mobilize all of their forces for service in the $6,000,000 United Jewish Campaign of New York, which begins on April 25th. Every congregation, every Jewish organization must be a recruiting station for volunteers who will, if necessary, go from door to door, in this city, in order to raise the necessary funds for the service of our people.”

Final adoption of plans for the immediate erection of a new $50,000 Synagogue in Louisville. Ky., by the Congregation Agudath Achim Anshe Stard was decided upon at a general meeting of the membership and the board of directors.

Work will start soon, so that the structure will be completed by August 15. The site of the new synagogue, was recently purchased at a cost of $7,500.