Hias Appeal for Support Answered in Many Cities

The campaign launched by the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America for funds with which to carry on the work of settling Jewish wanderers in South American and other countries is reciving countrywide support, according to a statement made by John L. Bernstein, Chairman of the Campaign Committee.

In Pittsburgh, for which a quota of $20,000 has been set. the campaign is under the chairmanship of Mrs. Henry Finkelpearl. She is supported by Rabbi Samuel H. Goldenson, Rabbi Herman Hailperin, Rabbi B. A. Lichter, Rabbi M. J. Sivits, Rabbi W. Leiter and Rabbi G. A. Rose.

In response to an inquiry by Rabbi Goldenson, Mr. Louis Marshall pointed out that it is not within the province of the Joint Distribution Committee to engage in immigrant aid work.

In his letter, made public by Mr. Bernstein, Mr. Marshall declared: “Hias, on the other hand, has always been an immigrant aid society. While immigration to the United States was practically unlimited except by the selective test contained in the Act of 1917 as amended, it saw to it that immigrants who arrived in the United States reached their destination. Jewish immigration to this country, however, has been reduced to very small proportions and Hias, therefore, has determined to aid immigrants from various European countries to seek homes in South America and elsewhere, and I understand that the fund which it is now seeking to raise is intended to carry out this program.”

The Philadelphia Committee headed by Harry Fels, has undertaken to raise $75,000. The co-workers of Mr. Fels are Rabbi B. L. Levinthal, Jacob Ginsburg and Max E. Gordon as vice-chairmen and Jacob Edelstein as treasurer. Mrs. Reba Shestack is chairman of the Women’s Division.

Adolph Copeland, President of the Chicago Branch of Hias, is directing the campaign in that city, the quota for which is $50,000.

Israel Silberstein, President of the Hias is directing the campaign in that city, the quota for which is $50,000.

Israel Silberstein, President of the Hias Branch in Baltimore, is completing arrangements for the campaign to begin immediately after Succoth.

Appeals for the Hias campaign were made during the High Holidays in syna-gogues throughout the country.

Summarizing the reports received by the national office, Mr. Bernstein expressed himself as very much encouraged by the response to the appeal.

“It is evident,” said Mr. Bernstein, “that American Jewry is realizing the responsibility Hias has taken upon itself together with the Jewish Colonization Association and the United Jewish Emigration Committee of Europe. While these two organizations are cooperating in the actual work in Europe and in the new countries, the greatest part of the financial burden has to be borne by Hias, which means American Jewry.”

Mr. Bernstein pointed out that the new work of Hias is of two-fold character. It prepares the Jewish emigrants by affording them an opportunity to learn the languages of the countries to which they are going, by teaching them trades and feting them for farm labor. In the new countries, local committees, shelter houses employment bureaus and loan funds are organized.