(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The transformation of the Jewish masses from small merchants and traders into artisans and agriculturists has assumed a mass character, according to Dr. Henry Moskowitz, chairman of the American Ort, in summarizing the results of the Third International Ort Conference just concluded here.
The American delegation to the conference was gratified to see how popular the Ort is in all circles of European Jewry, Dr. Moskowitz stated.
The desire to leave small trade occupations and become a productive element, which will lead to the reconstruction of Jewish life, is on an enduring foundation. This is an undertaking which will not be accomplished in a few years, but one which will take two or three generations. The Ort, devoted to this work, unites all social and political elements in European Jewry, embracing such opposite elements as the Zionists and the Bundists The Ort conference was an expression of the Jewish will to live.
Among the most important decisions of the conference, owitz stated, was one relating to the coordination of the relative relief funds sent to Europe by American Jews. These huge sums, sent by American Jews to their East European kinsmen, have heretofore not been employed productively. According to the plan adopted by the conference, these sums, which previously had the character of pure charity, will now be employed to give the relatives a permanent means of earning a livelihood and to find productive work in their native country. It is expected that this system will bring good results, he stated.
The delegates to the Ort conference gave expression to their appreciation of the willingness of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee to cooperate with the other organizations working in Eastern Europe. A resolution to this effect, recognizing the high ideals and achievements of the J. D. C, was adopted. It was also brought out at the conference that the Ort and organizations like the Ort have small administrative expenses in view of the fact that they are not accustomed to thinking in terms of dollars but in terms of the local currency, the Zloty, the Lei, etc, Dr. Moskowitz concluded.
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