A prominent leader of Polish Jewry now in the Soviet Union, whose name cannot be divulged because of the fear of Nazi reprisals against members of his family who are still in Poland, today addressed an appeal to the Jews of the world to collect funds to buy tanks and bombers and ammunition for the Red Army.
The appeal is addressed to: “Friends of the World Jewish Congress and the American Jewish Congress, dear colleagues and friends of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Jews of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, my friends in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and my friends in Capetown.” Recalling the various occasions on which he has had dealings with the Jews in the various parts of the world mentioned in his appeal, the Jewish leader states: “You know me well, I am neither a Soviet citizen nor a Communist. I am a Polish Jew who believes in and hopes for a free Poland.”
Stressing the need for aid to Russia, the Polish-Jewish leader says: “I have seen our pogrom-racked Jewish brothers and sisters and our tortured and murdered children. Rivers of blood are being shed by our brother Jews in the Red Army and by other Russians. More tanks, more bombers, more ammunition is needed. I appeal to you: Collect the necessary funds. Let your work be on a par with the great struggle for life against the forces of death – for freedom against the forces of slavery.”
At the same time it was announced here today that several Jewish engineers have been honored by the Soviet Government for increasing the production of fighter planes and bombers. Among those receiving the Order of the Red Star are the engineers Arson, Gundelan, Schweitzer, Miller, Lewitin and Lewin.
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.
