prises, on the contrary, decreases every day.
There are in Lithuania now 88 Jewish credit kassas once established by the American Joint Distribution Committee. These kassas are doing their best to maintain the stability of the Jewish small trader and artisan by advancing them small loans. These loans, however, provide only temporary assistance, and it is difficult to say whether all the loans will be repaid on time, or whether some of them will never return.
The thirty-six institutions maintained by the Jews in Kovno, consisting of soup kitchens for children, orphan asylums, sheltering houses and schools, are now one by one being closed down. The Jewish community in Kovno is now not in a position to maintain all these institutions. Their number is decreasing every day while the number of those depending upon these institutions is growing in much larger proportion.
In an effort to relieve the situation, Lithuanian Jewry is trying to help itself by organizing everywhere local relief committees. These committees are to provide all kinds of relief for the Jewish victims of the economic crisis. They are to assist the small traders with short-term loans; to help the artisan with cheaper meals; to provide funds for the weak and the meek. The income of these relief committees is, however, sufficient to help only ten percent of those applying for help.
Lithuanian Jewry always famous for its desire to share is now facing a situation where it cannot live up to its reputation of maintaining its own institutions and of providing for its own needy. If economic conditions continue in Lithuania as hitherto, then the Jewish leaders of Lithuania will have no other way than to appeal to Jews abroad for assistance. At present these leaders are trying their best to avoid the issuance of such an appeal. Times in Lithuania, however, are going from bad to worse, and no one can predict what the Jewish communities in Lithuania may be compelled to do if the economic situation does not improve. if the economic situation does not improve.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
