Ort Leader Outlines New Form of Constructive Relief (By Our Berlin Correspondent)
A program for the development on a large scale of a plan of relief whereby the Ort would become the intermediary for the transmission by American Jews of individual constructive assistance to their relatives in Eastern Europe, has been outlined here by Dr. D. Lvovitch, one of the leaders of the Ort.
Dr. Lvovitch’s plan is based on a principle which has partly been applied by Ort itself and which the Hias is using in connection with emigrants to Palestine whom it helps to settle in that country under the direct support of the relatives in America.
The main point of significance in this plan. Dr. Lvovitch has declared, in a written statement, lies not in the money subventions so much as in the fact that relatives will be helped to build their lives on a constructive basis. “This,” Dr. Lvovitch explains, “is by no means an easy or simple task. It is impossible to send tools or machines directly from America–this is done at present through the medium of our Cooperative Tool Supply Company. It is impossible living in America to procure land for one’s father or brother residing somewhere in Russia and by far not every American Jew has the necessary means to purchase land for a whole family as it may require considerable sums. Everybody, however, will be glad to give a part of the money required, if this sum could be advanced in several rates, while the remaining amount would be paid out in time by the relative-beneficiary.
“In order to give this sort of help a rational development,” we are told, “it is necessary that the ‘Ort,’ which has in this respect great possibilities, should take the matter into its hands. Although it can approach this problem with but limited sums the results obtained may be very considerable. If, for instance, the settlement of a family requires 2,000 rubles ($1,000), the cooperation of the ‘Ort’ covering 25 per cent from Fund sources (in the form of machines, etc.) makes it easier for the foreign relative to guarantee the remaining 75 per cent, which he will pay out in instalments in the course of one or two years.
“We have already met with a case when an American Jew, a man of moderate income, who regularly sent his brother ten dollars as a monthly subvention, approached us with the request to purchase for the brother a horse and agricultural implement to the amount of $250–which were guaranteed by the Amalgamated Bank. Having given his brother such comparatively large credit he expected, that his brother would also participate in covering a part of the sum required.
“We know that many East European Jews address themselves to their American relatives with the request to lend them money. It is clear that neither the ‘Ort.’ nor the Fund can give the American Jews any guarantee that his Russian or Polish relative will repay the money on demand, but the cooperation of the ‘Ort’ assures at least the repayment of a part of the sum lent, in so far as the ‘Ort’ acts according to its principle of granting money only on credit-terms. The Russian and Polish Jews generally do not fail in fulfilling their obligations whenever the American relatives want them to release the money. At any rate these last have a greater chance to recover the advaned sums if theye give them through the medium of the ‘Ort,’ than if they should act independently.
“The first steps in this direction have been already made. We have already started the supplying of machines with the help of relatives and have received a great number of applications. The ‘Hias’ begins with the settlement of Jews in Palestine under support of their American relatives. This activity should, however, be considerably widened. Palestine gives settling possibilities to a comparatively small number of Jews, the greater part of whom will have to remain in Russia, Poland and other East European countries. It is, therefore urgent that not only American Jews, but also the Jewish inhabitants of Argentine, Africa and Western Europe, should help their brothers, who are obliged to remain in the countries where they are now living.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
