B’nai B’rith has “adopted” a small rural town in central Guatemala as a relief project for that earthquake-devastated country. Chinaluta, about 10miles from this capital city, was selected by Ricardo Holzer of Panama, chairman of the B’nai B’rith International Council, who presented a check for $1000 to relief officials last Thursday, initiating the B’nai B’rith campaign. About 80 percent of Chinaluta’s homes were destroyed, leaving some 4500 persons homeless.
Holzer said that Chinaluta, out of the hub of economic activity, was selected because it seemed apparent that it would be low in the government’s reconstruction priorities. Each new shelter will cost an estimated $500. Plans for the structures have been drawn up by Guatemala University’s School of Architecture.
B’nai B’rith members in Guatemala have been assisting rescue and relief agencies in caring for the injured and homeless. Max Trachtenberg, president of the B’nai B’rith lodge there, is director of the volunteer firemen.
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.
