#ill concentrate its mind and heart on our problem here in this ###ntry and upon the charitable, educational and humanitarian asks which, in these times of de#ession, require our special efforts ##d energies."
DEPRESSION DISCONTENT
Taking cognizance of {SPAN}propa#nda{/SPAN} for change in the American {SPAN}#rm{/SPAN} of government as a result of {SPAN}##rd{/SPAN} times, the speaker declared:
"Distress arising from the long ###awn out depression tempts people of all classes to listen to proposals of change made for the ##ere sake of change and without considering sufficiently whether ###ch change is for the better …
"Distress provides fertile soil ###r seeds of discontent. Ignorance ###cubates in such seeds."
Mr. Warburg referred with gratification" to the conviction ### the conference and the "greater ##ct" that Jewish federations have ##pended more than $25,000,000 in ###e last two years "not only to re###ve distress but to promote sturdy ##d loyal American education and ### help conquer ignorance."
He said American Jewry has developed and is taking its responsibilities seriously.
"It gives when asked and, in ###me cases, it gives generously ###en when not asked," he asserted.
Mr. Warburg declared the young #ust "carry on," adding that "we ###der men and women must help ###em by pointing the way and giving them an opportunity for American life and American progress along American lines."
OUTLINES AIMS
A compact outline of the major objectives of the National {SPAN}Coun###{/SPAN} was presented by William J. {SPAN}###hroder{/SPAN}, president, who spoke at {SPAN}###st{/SPAN} night’s dinner on "The Place {SPAN}###{/SPAN} the National Council of Jewish {SPAN}#ederations{/SPAN} and Welfare Funds in American Life."
"The basic objective of the council," he declared, "is to fur###ish an instrumentality for the ###ews scattered in communities throughout the United States to help them in most effectively achieving their destiny as integral ###arts of American life and in mak###g their maximum contribution ### the solution of those problems which are today puzzling every American…. Our sole objective to make the forty-four Federations which constitute the National Council, and which are in communities with seventy-five per cent of the Jewish population of ##he United States, most useful to ###eir people."
Deploring the fact that Jews, whatever their other talents, ###eem incapable of unification," Mr. ###hroder pointed out that "in social ###ork alone has an approach to ###ity been attained."
As a partial result of this approach to unity, he continued, "the Jews gave to American life the ###an of federating welfare activities for joint planning, joint bud###eting and joint money raising, which concept is now flowering ###er the length and breadth of ###e United States in Community ###ests and Community Funds for### years after the first seed was ###anted in Jewish communal life."
High Commissioner McDonald #so spoke at the dinner, taking ###olerance and the Refugees" as ### topic. Professor Albert Einstein, who was scheduled to take part in a discussion on good will, did not appear.
STUDY EUROPEAN SITUATION
The afternoon session was devoted to a survey of the economic conditions affecting the Jews in Eastern and Central Europe, including Russia. Reports were delivered on the efforts of the Joint Distribution Committee to ameliorate their plight and help them to return to a self-supporting basis.
"The Biro-Bidjan project deserves very careful consideration," Dr. Rosen said. "It must be clearly understood that Biro-Bidjan is not and is not being considered by the Soviet government, as such, as a prospective ‘homeland’ for the Jews of the world.
"But, due to the favorable attitude of the government and to the great wealth of the undeveloped natural resources of the country, it has, in spite of considerable difficulties, all the potential possibilities of becoming a very important center of immigration for the Jewish working classes."
REFUGEE DISTRIBUTION
Dr. Bernhard Kahn, European director of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, presented a detailed account of the distribution of the 65,000 Jewish refugees from Germany since the advent of the Hitler regime.
More than 20,000 went to Palestine, Dr. Kahn reported, while between 16,000 and 18,000 proceeded to the countries whence they or their parents originated.
Between 10,000 and 12,000 Jews in exile from the Third Reich, he went on, are now in France, out of 20,000 who originally went there. Of 5,000 who took refuge in the Netherlands, 1,485 have finally settled in that country.
In regard to migration of German Jewish refugees to the United States, Dr. Kahn gave no figures, merely describing the number as "appreciable." Six thousand have been absorbed by countries of Latin America, he said, 3,000 by England, a like number by Czechoslovakia and 1,200 by Spain.
FEDERATION HISTORY
Dr. Solomon Lowenstein, executive director of the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies, discussed "The American Scene — Jewish Needs and Jewish Welfare Facilities Today" at the luncheon opening the parley, at which former Judge Joseph M. Proskauer presided.
The history of the Jewish federation in the United States was traced by Dr. Lowenstein from the latter part of the last century.
"The growing up of vast ghettos in New York, the chief port of entry, and in other seaports created situations which were beneficial neither to the Jewish community as a whole nor to the individuals compelled to live amid such conditions.
"The Jews of the interior cities realized their responsibility and responded in large degree. But even without this the natural intelligence, resourcefulness and energy of the immigrants must have brought about their spreading throughout the entire country wherever economic opportunity presented itself.
"Thus, in varying degrees, the same problem of social adjustment of these newcomers presented themselves in every part of the country and in communities large and small.
"To meet these new emergencies, the work of the old, long-existing agencies had to be broadened and intensified and new mediums of helpfulness had to be created."
INDUSTRIAL MOVEMENT
Figures to illustrate that American Jews are tending away from commerce and toward industry, the professions and agriculture were cited by Samuel A. Goldsmith of Chicago, executive director of the Jewish Charities in that city, who also spoke at the luncheon.
"The problem of maldistribution of occupations among the Jews is far from solved, however," Goldsmith said.
"We are city dwellers," he declared, in explanation of this condition.
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.
