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Hias Convention Appeals to Roosevelt to Save Jews; Announces $1,000,000 Drive

December 20, 1943
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A resolution appealing to the U.S. Government and to the United Nations for rescue of Jews in Europe was adopted here today at the convention of the HIAS Council of Organizations, held at the Hotel Diplomat, and attended by more than 2,000 delegates representing 1,000 Jewish fraternal, religious, labor and welfare bodies.

The convention was addressed by Newbold Morris, president of the New York City Council, who demanded that the United States take the lead in rescuing Nazi victims and uphold the American tradition of asylum for oppressed. Other speakers included Abraham Herman, president of HIAS, John L. Bernstein, Isaac L. Asofsky, Judge Jonah J. Goldstein, Harry Leng, S. Dingol, William Edlin and D. L. Mekler who reported on the work of the HIAS and urged large-scale support for the $1,000,000 campaign being conducted by the organization for its 1944 program. A resolution to support this campaign was unanimously adopted by the convention.

The resolution appealing to the U.S. Government to save Jews from Nazi lands, reads: “In this solemn and decisive hour for the remnant of European Jewish communities, Hitler’s first victims, against whom the Nazi fury and bestiality are relentlessly and mercilessly being unleashed, we direct our fervent prayer and appeal to the President of the United States and the Governments of the United Nations to institute such effective measures as will, as soon as possible, bring about the rescue of as many of the helpless victims of Nazism through the establishment of temporary rescue stations and the opening of havens for those victims who may still be saved and extricated from the Nazi-dominated lands.”

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