Felix M. Warburg, Jewish philanthropist and financier, will head the $3,000,000 united campaign of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the American Palestine Campaign for the relief of German Jews announced Paul Baerwald, chairman of the American Joint Distribution Committee, at a meeting of the groups last night at the Hotel Astor. The meeting officially launched the huge drive for the relief of German victims of the Reich terror.
James G. McDonald, High Commissioner for German Refugees, was present and cooperated in the launching of the campaign.
He declared, in a speech broadcast over a nation-wide hookup, that the decision of the two large groups to work in unison for the relief of the Jewish victims would encourage both Jews and non-Jews throughout the country to cooperate more strongly in the drive for the $3,000,000.
“A response from the Jews of America, worthy of their best traditions,” he declared stirringly, “will enormously facilitate the carrying out of the task assigned to my colleagues and to me, and will demonstrate to the whole world that the Jews once more are glad of the opportunity to share in the great world-wide undertaking of mercy and justice.”
Explaining that large sums of money are needed at once, the High Commissioner declared, “Two large programs call imperatively for ample resources. One of these is that with which the High Commission is directly concerned: the gram, with which my office has work of relief, retraining and settling of refugees. The second prono official connection, is also basically important. The Jews within Germany are in desperate need of help to maintain, even on a lowered standard, their cultural, religious and philanthropic institutions. I cannot stress too strongly my personal concern that German Jewry should receive from the outside the aid it needs to maintain its cultural and spiritual life.”
WARNS OF LOSSES TO JUDAISM
Mr. McDonald originally estimated the number of refugees from Germany at 60,000. About eighty-six per cent of these are Jews, he said. Since that time, several thousand more refugees have come out, the Commissioner added.
Another aspect of the general problem is that of the situation within Germany itself, Mr. McDonald concluded. “Unless funds from the outside are made available to help the German Jews maintain their cultural, religious and philanthropic institutions, losses to Judaism may be irreparable,” he asserted. “Moreover, the masses of the German Jews have shown a stoicism and fortitude, in the face of an overwhelming tragedy, that merits the highest admiration. Their leaders, too, many of whom I have known personally, have displayed courage under heart breaking conditions that has stirred me deeply. If only the Jews elsewhere could realize the price which German Jews are paying for loyalty to their ideals, there would be no hesitancy in making available at once the resources needed for work within Germany.”
UNITED DRIVE OFFICERS
Officers of the united campaign were announced by Paul Baerwald. They are: Felix M. Warburg, national chairman; Paul Baerwald, Morris Rothenberg and Rabbi Jonah B. Wise, co-chairmen; Governor Herbert H. Lehman, Dr. Cyrus Adler, Judge Julian W. Mack, Joseph M. Proskauer and Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, honorary chairmen; Joseph C. Hyman, honorary secretary, and Nathan Straus Jr., treasurer.
The campaign will be conducted by an administrative committee consisting of Mr. Baerwald, David M. Bressler, Harry L. Glucksman, Joseph C. Hyman, Alexander Kahn, John L. Liebowitz, Louis Lipsky, Dr. Solomon Lowenstein, I. D. Morrison, Charles Ress, Louis P. Rocker, Morris Rothenberg and Rabbi Jonah B. Wise. It will be directed by Isidore Coons and Robert Silverman.
Joseph C. Hyman, secretary of the Joint Distribution, introduced Judge Julian W. Mack, who presided at the meeting. Other speakers were Morris Rothenberg, Paul Baerwald and Rabbi Jonah B. Wise.
MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR
Mr. Baerwald described the campaign as “the greatest appeal for service that has come to the Jews of America in this generation.” Governor Lehman, who was unable to attend the conference, sent a message congratulating the two organizations for cooperating in the campaign and offering his full cooperation.
Morris Rothenberg, president of the Zionist Organization of America, told the conference that “unless the courage and the vision of their brethren in America come to their assistance in this dark hour, the Jews of Germany are doomed. There is no other word for it. Life itself is becoming impossible for our brethren in Germany. Their tragedy is day by day becoming graver.”
Appealing for unstinted aid in this country, Mr. Rothenberg explained that “there are several things which must be done. Relief must be extended where needed. Works of rehabilitation must be undertaken in Germany and in many of the refugees have made their escape. The children, the most innocent victims of the events in Germany, must not be allowed to live in an atmosphere of fear and hatred, which is poisoning their lives. As many German Jews as can possibly be absorbed in that land must be helped to settle in Palestine.
PALESTINE ONLY SOLUTION
Mr. Rothenberg discussed the solution that Palestine offers as a haven of refuge. He characterized it as “the only country capable of absorbing a substantial portion of refugees. It should be remembered that in the last ten years Palestine absorbed ten times as many Jewish immigrants as the rest of the world. As Jewish manpower, capital and idealism for a reborn homeland are poured into the country its opportunities for the reception of additional settlers become greater.
“Who can say what Jewish vision and talent and will to live,” he continued, “may achieve if our people, now to be strengthened by the collaboration of the German element which was hitherto lacking, set themselves to the task of creating a rightful place for themselves in the sun.”
Rabbi Jonah B. Wise, who last year headed the German Relief Fund of the Joint Distribution Committee, declared in his address that the needs of the German Jews are so great that every effort on their behalf must be generous to be of any use. The uniting of the two organizations, he said, will result in “greater aid for those who are in such dire difficulties.”
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.
