Announcement that the Hias. the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of America. will launch a campaign for $500,000 in the near future for the purpose of continuing and extending its activities in aiding Jewish wanderers to settle in Palestine and in South American countries, was made at a farewell dinner given Sunday evening at the Hias building in honor of Dr. Myron Kreinin. Dr. Kreinin, who is head of the Emigdirekt, is sailing today on the “Mauretania” following a stay of several months in the United States during which time he conferred with the directors of the Hias concerning the immigrant aid work carried on by these organizations in European countries.
Speakers at the dinner expressed their agreement with the contemplated course of action, emphasizing that the need for Jewish migration from East European countries is growing stronger. Among the speakers were Dr. A. Coralnick. S. Niger, Joseph Barondess, John L. Bernstein, Judge Jacob Panken, Rev. Zvi H. Masliansky, Dr. Henry Moskowitz, Adolph Copeland, President of the Chicago branch of the Hias. Max Meyerson, Albert Rosenblatt and B. C. Vladeck.
Dr. Kreinin, in his address, stated:
“The most important question today for those interested in the immigration problem is to find centers of immigration and make possible the settling of immigrants there.
“The economic condition in the European emigration countries is deplorable, as the following figures show: In Poland, the largest emigration country, as far as Jews are concerned, there are three million Jews. There is no possibility for them to earn a livelihood, even under normal conditions. About 80 per cent of the Jewish population can find no employment even in the socalled Jewish trades.
“The number of Polish nationals who can come into the United States under the existing immigration laws is less than 6,000; in 1925. 3,500 Polish Jews entered the United States. There was. however, a larger immigration to other lands. The total Jewish emigration in 1925 from East European countries was 33,000 (of this number 5,000 emigrated from Russia), 90 per cent of whom received one service or another from the Hias European offices. The emigrants went to Argentine. Australia. Uruguay, Brazil, Canada and Palestine.
“There is little restriction of immigration to South American countries. However, those who go there must be suited for these countries. For instance, there is no organization in Argentine or in Chile to provide for the needs of the immigrants. The Jewish Colonization Association is interested only in colonization work. Most of the immigrants for Argentine remain in Buenos Aires, and there at present they have little opportunity to become settled and self-supporting.
“In Uruguay. Paraguay and other countries. many Jewish immigrants would be able to settle if they were assisted. Brazil is not so well adapted for Jewish immigration as practically the only employment available there is on coffee plantations and for such labor Europans are not adapted.
“It is very important that organizations be established in the countries mentioned, to cope with the problem of the immigrants and to furnish, if necessary, temporary shelter; maintain employment bureaus, and to help the immigrants in adapting themselves to conditions in their newly adopted countries.
“If the Jewish emigrants are to be helped to become permanent settlers in the countries stated. the work has to begin in Europe itself. That is, they have to be taught the language of the country to which they emigrate. They must be taught certain trades. naturally those whoch they could best fill in the new lands. In other words their adaptability must begin in their old homes. It may be necessary in order to carry these into effect to utilize existing in stitutions and even to create new organizations.
“Then there is the question of Palestine. There is a decided trend on the part of the European immigrants to go to Palestine. In this regard the American relatives can be of material assistance. They can furnish them with the funds to enable them to settle in that country. Ordinarily these American Jews would send to their relatives abroad prepaid steamship tickets or supply them with other funds. Since these people cannot come here any more and since some of them desire to go to Palestine. the money should be utilized for that purpose.”
San Francisco’s orthodox Jewish community, Congregation Keneseth Israel, announced plans for the immediate construction of a new temple to accommodate 2,000 worshippers.
The new synagogue will cost $125,000, according to preliminary plans, and will be of the Byzantine style of architecture.
Plans for the temple, which have been cherished for many years by the congregation. reached their culmination with the recent return from Jerusalem of Rabbi Wolf Gold.
M. M. Spiegelman is chairman of the building committee.
The Beth Moses Hospital, at Stuyyesant Avenue and Hart Street. Brooklyn. N. Y., has been officially accepted as a member society by the Brooklyn Federation of Jewish Charities, according to an announcement by Supreme Court Justice Mitchell May. President of the Federation. The Finance Committee, headed by Walter N. Rothschild. has recommended that the hospital receive $50,000 from the Feoderation’s mund for 1927, and the Women’s Auxiliary $15,000.
CORRECTION
An error occurred in the report of the progress of the United Jewish Campaign in yesterday’s issue. It was stated that Cincinnati had contributed $500,000. The correct amount is $300,000.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
