$50,000 Pledged for Current Hias Deficit

Following a six-hour conference Sunday at the Hias Building, the Hias Council of Organizations pledged itself to raise $50,000 during the next six months to be devoted toward the current deficit of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society.

The consensus of opinion expressed by many of the delegates, who collectively represented 327 lodges, societies, Workmen’s Circle branches, synagogues, etc., was to the effect that the Hias now finds itself in an extremely precarious state financially and hence steps must be taken to insure its continuance as a necessary adjunct of Jewish communal life.

By a resolution adopted, it was left to the executive committee of the Council to devise the manner and methods in which the money is to be raised. A direct tax on members of the affiliated organizations, as well as general solicitation, were discussed at the conference, which, incidentally, marked the opening of the new year’s activities for the Council.

But whatever the means of achieving the sum voted, the delegates themselves will lead the activity, for at Sunday’s meeting they immediately voted themselves into a committee of the whole to plan the effort. The executive committee also will assign quotas to communities other than in New York, notably New Jersey, which was well represented at the conference.

The conference was addressed by B. Charney Vladeck, business manager of the “Forward”; Abraham Herman, president of the Hias and John L. Bernstein, former president and now chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

An election of officers for the Council, also was held in connection with the conference. Saul Poliakoff, of the Cloakmakers’ Union, was unanimously re-elected president for the next year. Similar honor was accorded M. D. Perelman, of Workmen’s Circle Branch No. 315, who was chosen vice-president and Louis J. Holzman, of Lipner Young Men’s Association, secretary. An executive committee of thirty-five also was chosen, and included among its members are Rabbi Pfeffer, of Manhattan; and Rabbi Leo Essex, of Brooklyn.

In connection with the elections, an important step taken was the ratification of a plan for an “interlocking directorate” to exist between the Council and the Hias itself. The Council designated five delegates as members of the Hias’ board of directors, and the Hias will reciprocate. This step is intended to promote complete unity and accord between both groups.