Four Thousand Jewish Workers Suffer from Floods in Belgium

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

About 4,000 Jewish workers have been thrown out of employment in Belgium as a result of the recent floods, which have affected their factories and coalyards. The majority of these Jewish workers have not been settled long in Belgium and do not belong to trade unions. They are being subsidized by the special funds raised for the relief of the sufferers from the floods.

The Jewish Committee for aiding the sufferers from the floods has forwarded 200,000 Frances to the National Aid Committee. This amount has been contributed largely by the Jews in Antwerp. The Chief Rabbi of Belgium, Rabbi Ernest Ginsburger, has launched a special appeal to the Jews of Belgium to give support to the victims of the floods.

The first contribution of the Jewish Aid Committee which amounted to 100.000 Francs, was the first sum received by the National Aid Committee. The Belgian Press praised the vigorous relief activity of the Jewish population.

At the sitting of the chamber of Deputies, which was devoted to a discussion of the situation in the flooded areas, the Socialist Deputy Merlot, Mayor of Seraing, a town which suffered severely from the floods, paid a warm tribute to those who had distinguished themselves by being the first to come forward with assistance, the city of Antwerp, the King and Queen, and the Jews of Antwerp. M. Merlot said that the contributions had been distributed among all the victims of the flood with out any distinction of nationality or race. The town of Seraing has a Jewish population of several hundred, practically all workers, all of whom have suffered from the floods.