The Joint Distribution Committee will need a minimum of $98,647,000## 1948 to continue its program of relief and rehabilitation assistance to Jews abroad and to assist in the migration and resettlement in Palestine of displaced Jews from Europe, it was announced today at the 33rd annual meeting of the J.D.C. Edward M.M. Warburg was reelected chairman of the agency for 1948.
Four Jewish leaders who addressed the conference today pointed out that continuing large-scale aid to the Jews of Europe must be maintained and increased at the same time that the J.D.C. staff and facilities must be pressed to the limit to give every assistance to DP’s migrating from the camps of Germany, Austria and Italy to Palestine. Former Gov. Herbert H. Lehman, a J.D.C. vice-chairman, said that this year “there can be an end to homelessness for hundreds of thousands of Jews in Europe,” adding: “However, we must not for a moment lessen our efforts to help the 1,500,000 Jews now in Europe, most of whom will remain there for years to come.”
Judge Louis E. Levinthal, former advisor on Jewish affairs to the U.S. military command in Europe, who returned from his tour of duty yesterday, urged the U.S. to receive its fair share of DP immigrants. He urged the nations which voted for partition of Palestine at the U.N. not to think that they had done their full duty toward the refugees, but also to permit some of them to resettle in other lands besides Palestine.
Describing the energy and vitality with which Europe ?s Jews are entering into reconstructive programs as “the most encouraging single aspect of the Jewish scene in Europe, “Mr. Warburg declared that “the United Nations decision on Palestine brings new hope and courage to the homeless Jews in the DP camps. To fit them for the new lives they will begin in the Holy Land, JDC must provide increased training and reconstruction activities–along with vitally needed relief. Equally clear are our responsibilities towards the 1,400,000 Jewish men, women and children who will remain in Europe this year.”
Reporting on the European scene, Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, J.D C. European director, declared that the Agency’s activities since liberation form a sturdy foundation for recovery. “JDC’s support of children’s bones and medical institutions, its rebuilding of Jewish communities, its support of loan centers and producers’ operatives, its shipments of raw materials and machinery are the tools with which Europe’s Jews can go forward towards revival,” he stated. “But at the same time the Jews of Europe present basic relief needs which only JDC can meet.” He pointed put that the International Refugee Organization, valiantly attempting to take up UNBRRA’S burden, is operating on limited funds and provides only limited aid.
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.
