American Jews Accused of Indifference to Brethren in Shanghai

A FEELING CURRENT IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HERE THAT AMERICAN JEWRY IS INDIFFERENT TO THE PLIGHT OF JEWS IN SHANGHAI SUFFERING THROUGH THE DEVASTATION OF THE UNDECLARED WAR IS REFLECTED IN AN EDITORIAL IN THE CURRENT ISSUE OF ISRAEL’S MESSENGER.

DECLARING “OUR AMERICAN BROTHERS” HAVE MADE NO EFFORT TO AID THE STRICKEN SHANGHAI JEWS, THE JEWISH MONTHLY ASKS THE REASON FOR THE “CARELESS ATTITUDE” AND “APPARENT INDIFFERENCE,” AND REQUESTS A “SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION” FROM EITHER THE LEADERS OR THE JEWISH PRESS OF AMERICA.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE NORTH-CHINA DAILY NEWS PUBLISHES A LETTER FROM THE SHANGHAI HEBREW RELIEF SOCIETY AND SHELTER HOUSE DESCRIBING THE DISTRESS OF ILL-HOUSED, ILL-FED, ILL-CLOTHED JEWS AND APPEALING FOR CONTRIBUTIONS OF CASH, CLOTHING AND BEDDING.

ISRAEL’S MESSENGER, OWNED AND EDITED BY MRS. K. EZRA, WIDOW OF N.E.B. EZRA, AND CALLING ITSELF “THE ORGAN OF JEWRY IN THE FAR EAST, ” SAYS IN ITS EDITORIAL THAT VARIOUS APPEALS SENT BY LOCAL LEADERS TO AMERICAN JEWRY WERE COMPLETELY IGNORED.

“ABOUT A MONTH AGO (AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER),” THE EDITORIAL DECLARES, “SEVERAL CABLEGRAMS WERE SENT WHICH BROUGHT BACK ONLY ONE REPLY. IT WAS FROM ONE OF THE LEADING UNITED JEWISH WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS OF NEW YORK, AND IT READ, “SORRY CAN MAKE NO APPROPRIATION’ — JUST THAT AND NOTHING MORE — NOT A WORD OF SYMPATHY, WHICH WE WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED EVEN MORE THAN THE COLD ‘APPROPRIATION.'”