45,000 Jews Emigrated from Europe in Last Year; Hias Makes Appeal to Contributors

Forty-five thousand Jews emigrated from Europe during the past year, it was stated yesterday at the conference of the Hicem, an international Jewish immigrant organization in which the Hias of America, the Ica of Paris and the Emigdirect of Berlin are represented. During the past three years the conference has aided 175,000 Jewish emigrants.

The conference was presided over by Dr Blau, who declared that the problem of Jewish immigration today consists mainly in finding new countries where Jews may settle and in arousing more interest in Jewish immigration problems on the part of the Jewish public. In spite of immigration restrictions in nearly all countries, Dr. Blau stated, Jewish emigration from European countries is nevertheless steadily on the increase.

An urgent appeal to contributors of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society (Hias) to transmit their annual contributions immediately, has just been issued by Abraham Herman, president of the Society. In his statement regarding the work of the Society and the urgent need for funds at present, Mr. Herman says:

“As American Jewry well knows, thousands of Jews who cannot possibly remain in the Old World countries are flocking to the new centers of Jewish immigration, that is, to Argentine, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Cuba and similar countries. They are enabled to find new homes and establish themselves permanently because of the help given them by Hias.

“The financial condition of Hias is such that it has now a deficit of over $100,000 and that unless immediate financial aid is forthcoming, there is imminent danger of the work being curtailed. This would mean tremendous hardship and misery to thousands of our people. On behalf of Hias which has served American and world Jewries for all these years, I strongly appeal not only to the members of the Society, but to all American Jews to respond quickly to the need that has arisen”.