German Jewry’s Plight Rapidly Becoming Worse, Report Shows

The plight of the half million German Jews is rapidly becoming worse under the stress of the Hitler government, it was revealed in a report issued yesterday by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee which is co-operating in the United Jewish Appeal’s $3,000,000 drive here. The report was received from a highly authentic source in Europe.

Unable to provide even a minimum for philanthropic and cultural service required by their impoverished communities, although they had been levying heavy taxes upon themselves, in some cases as high as 75 and 100 per cent of the government income levy, their desperate plight will necessitate far larger appropriations by the AJJDC than at first thought necessary.

Increasing unemployment and further disabilities of the Nazi regime make it practically impossible for the stricken Jews to raise even a fraction of their self-imposed taxes. This condition throws the burden of their well-being upon the shoulders of foreign Jewry, mainly American. Aid is necessary to prevent the closing of their philanthropic and cultural institutions, many of which have already shut their doors because of lack of funds to carry on.

MORALE AT LOW EBB

Their morale, due to the uncertainty with regard to further restrictive measures, is now at its lowest ebb, the report further states. Jewish families which had possessed funds at the beginning of the Hitler regime now find their money exhausted, adding to the burden. Jewish employes, fired by Nazi orders, have passed the period during which they receive unemployment relief.

Tax receipts of the Jewish Gemeinden, used to maintain synagogues, schools, cemeteries and hospitals, and to support rabbis and teachers, cannot be applied to the emergency relief fund.

It is a tribute to the spirit of self-sacrifice, the United Jewish Appeal said yesterday, that the Gemeinden was able to collect high taxes last year from the Jews of Germany. Taxes have risen to from 20 to 100 per cent of the state income tax in the various Jewish communities, not withstanding that because of increasing impoverishment it is inconceivable that that amount can be collected now.

DIVERSE ACTIVITIES

The Gemeinden activities, for which funds must be made available immediately, include well planned and systematic immigration, training of Jewish youth, directing Jewish youth into productive channels of occupation, retraining of older people, granting of small credits for business purposes, and offering at least a minimum of cultural life and direct relief to smaller communities which are still unable to take care of themselves.

Despite every economy, the load which is resting upon the backs of the German Jews is daily becoming heavier. In Berlin alone 20,000 persons are supported by the Gemeinden. During the winter the only public collections permitted by the Nazi regime for relief were for all German unemployed. In consequence sums raised outside the normal tax of the Gemeinden were entirely voluntary.

While the Jewish people of Germany will continue to make the greatest sacrifices to maintain necessary relief and well being, even with their efforts Jews of other lands must help and cooperate to alleviate the catastrophic situation, the report concludes.