The campaign of the Joint Distribution Committee for the relief of millions of destitute Jews in Eastern Europe was inaugurated Tuesday evening, at a meeting of the campaign leaders, at the home of Paul Baerwald, Chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee.
Mr. Baerwald announced that Dudley D. Sicher, long a leader in philanthropic and communal activities and a former President of the New York State Conference of Social Work and the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies, had accepted the chairmanship of the New York City appeal with Felix M. Warburg, Mr. Baerwald, Arthur Lehman, Hon. Edward Lazansky, James N. Rosenberg and the Rev. Dr. Jonah B. Wise as vice-chairmen, and Dr. Joseph J. Klein as treasurer.
In addresses by Mr. Sicher, Mr. Baerwald, Dr. Wise and Dr. Solomon Lowenstein, executive director of the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies, the plight of the Jewish populations of Eastern Europe was pictured as so tragic that in spite of depressed conditions in this country, it was imperative that some aid be provided. The speakers agreed that it would be impossible this year to raise funds as large as those of previous years, but urged the need of maintaining the organization’s work to the greatest possible degree.
Where in previous years millions of dollars were sent abroad, Mr. Sicher said, we must this year send hundreds of thousands, if we can. Mr. Sicher urged that full recognition be given to the first duty which the Jewish community here owes in caring for the needy and suffering in its midst, but insisted that the work of the Joint Distribution Committee must be accepted as a second and vitally important responsibility.
Governor Herbert H. Lehman, long active in the work of the Joint Distribution Committee, who was unable to attend the meeting, due to the pressure of official business at Albany, sent a message expressing his best wishes for the success of the undertaking.
In describing the tragedy which is now being unfolded in the countries of Eastern Europe, Mr. Sicher declared that the plight of the Jews there is as bad now as at any time during and since the war.
“There can be no question,” he said, “of the need this year for the work which the Joint Distribution Committee has done so splendidly ever since its organization. A cable just received advises us that the millions of Jews in Eastern Europe are in as bad a plight today as they were during the war. Thousands upon thousands of children are literally starving; in Poland alone, three-quarters of the entire Jewish population are unemployed and virtually the same conditions exist in Roumania, Bessarabia, Latvia, Lithuania and elsewhere. At no time have we as Jews faced such a catastrophe as impends for these millions of our coreligionists.
“Let us face this situation honestly and in all frankness. Our situation here at home is such that it is futile to think of coping adequately with this problem. But simply because we have our own problems and a first duty at home is no reason for ignoring this other obligation. For we can do much. We can keep alive a bond of brotherhood and extend some degree of help. There is nothing so terrible as utter hopelessness, and no matter how tragic is the situation in Eastern Europe, we can save them from hopelessness.”
It was planned originally to hold the meeting at the home of Felix M. Warburg, but due to the death of Mrs. Jacob H. Schiff, Mrs. Warburg’s mother, the place of meeting was changed. Mr. Baerwald paid a tribute to Mrs. Schiff in opening the meeting.
“This meeting was originally planned to take place at Mr. Warburg’s house. We regret that circumstances do not permit him or any of his sons to be here tonight. We are assured of their deepest interest in the effort we are making.
“Many constructive efforts have had their origin or received their impetus from meetings in Mr. Warburg’s house, and we would have liked very much to have this meeting also take place in his house, which would, of course, have added to the distinction of this meeting. However, this could not be done, and I personally shall feel most happy if the campaign which we are about to inaugurate will owe its impulse to this meeting in my house and my greeting you here has therefore a double significance for myself.
“We are living in difficult times. We know our own local and national requirements are almost without limit, but in spite of that, the Executive Committee of the J.D.C. has in earnest conference concluded that we have to go out and collect money here and this very fact will show you how strongly we feel about this necessity. The fact of the matter is that our Budget of Expenditures has come down to very moderate proportions, but we have reached a definite minimum of requirements and the needs of this minimum are immediate.”
Dr. Wise pointed out that in addition to economic hardships, the Jewish populations in several lands are subject to other oppressive forces.
“Oppression added to depression is the problem the Jews of Europe ask the Jews of America to help them solve,” Dr. Wise said.
The Campaign Committee which will conduct the appeal in New York City includes: Edward L. Bernays, David M. Bressler, Hon. Jonah J. Goldstein, I. Edwin Goldwasser, Joseph C. Hyman, Alexander Kahn, Dr. Solomon Lowenstein, James Marshall, Hon. George Z. Medalie, Dr. Henry Moskowitz, Hon. Albert Ottinger, Hon. Otto A. Rosalsky, Hugh Grant Straus, Lewis L. Strauss, B. C. Vladeck, and Peter Wiernik.
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